PISCATAWAY – Rutgers (7-6, 0-3) jumped-out to an early lead on Maryland (12-3, 3-1), but was unable to maintain its momentum in a 77-63 loss to the Terrapins in front of a sold-out RAC on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Montez Mathis scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed a career-best eight rebounds to help spark an RU squad that battled foul trouble and struggled to find its shot.
 
"We got off to a good start, but hit a lull there around the 15-point mark," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. "We turned the ball over a lot in the first half and you cannot spot a team like them that big of a lead. We played a lot better in the second half, having zero turnovers in the half after having 11 in the first. The shooting percentage went way up, but you cannot spot a team that well coached and a great program that big of a lead."

Eugene Omoruyi led the Scarlet Knights with 12 points, while rookie Ron Harper Jr. added 10. Rutgers out-scored Maryland 32-30 in the paint, becoming the first Big Ten team to do so this season, while also establishing a 31-21 advantage in bench points.
 
"I thought we played hard all game," said Pikiell. "Eugene being in foul trouble did not help us, but Montez came and attacked the rim. He has been getting better and better. I need him in attack mode like that every time. He had a tough job covering the elite guard, (Anthony) Cowan on the other side. He was thrown straight to the fire and did a good job. He got into foul trouble too."
 
In front of a packed house, the home team brought the energy early, keyed by a strong effort on the defensive end with three early rejections. Mathis slammed down a dunk on a fast break to provide RU an 8-4 edge, then on the following possession, swished a 3-pointer for an 11-6 advantage. The RU defense locked down, holding Maryland to a field goal drought of over six minutes, while pushing its lead to 13-7.
 
The Terps counted with a 21-2 run, as Rutgers shooting went cold. The visitors extending their lead into double-digits at 28-15. At the midpoint, the Terrapins held a 40-19 advantage via a 28-4 run over the opening stanza's final nine minutes.
 
The Scarlet Knights had a quick 6-0 run out of the locker room, forcing a Maryland timeout. Rutgers started the frame 7-of-12 from the field, but the Terrapins used a 13-4 run to stretch their lead to 65-40.
 
Rutgers responded with a 12-0 run late in the contest, and outscored Maryland 44-37 in the second half. The charge fell short, however, and the Terrapins closed out their fifth victory in six games.
 
Rutgers returns to the hardwood next Saturday (Jan. 5) to host No. 14/12 Ohio State in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the RAC on Wednesday. The match-up will be televised live on BTN with Brandon Gaudin and Stephen Bardo on the call. The "Winter Break at The RAC" promotion is in effect against the Buckeyes and enables students with a valid Rutgers ID to bring guests in the student section. Guest tickets can be claimed via the normal student claim process.
 
"The league is as deep as it has ever been," said Pikiell. "It just makes it harder to break through. It is a tough challenge night in and night out. I wanted this challenge when I came here, and so did our players. That is the challenge we are faced with."
 
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POSTGAME NOTES 

• Maryland entered the contest first in the Big Ten and fourth nationally with a +11.9 rebounding margin, but managed a +3.0 margin with a 39-36 advantage on the boards.
• The Terrapins entered the contest atop the Big Ten in blocks, with 5.6 per-game. Rutgers issued five blocks and Maryland three.
• Rutgers out-scored Maryland 32-30 in the paint, becoming the first Big Ten team to do so this season.
• Montez Mathis scored 11 points and added eight rebounds and three assists. He set career-high in points and rebounds and tied his career-high in assists. He led Rutgers in rebounding for the first time in his career.
• Eugene Omoruyi scored 12 points, reaching double-figures for the 12^th time this season and 23^rd time in his career. In his last seven games he has averaged 16.2 points-per-game.
• Omoruyi took a charge, his team-leading 14^th drawn charge of the season.
• Ron Harper Jr. scored 10 points, reaching double figures for the third time this season and first in a Big Ten contest.
• Freshman Caleb McConnell had a career high-tying five rebounds.
• Maryland now leads the all-time series 10-3.
• Rutgers starting lineup consisted of Geo Baker, Peter Kiss, Montez Mathis, Eugene Omoruyi and Shaquille Doorson for the third straight game.
• The contest was sold out, marking RU's second sell-out of the season after Michigan State on Nov. 30. It signals the first time in 20 years that Rutgers has experienced multiple home sell-outs this early in its calendar schedule. During the 1998-99 campaign, the Scarlet Knights enjoyed capacity crowds at the RAC versus Temple on Dec. 19 and against No. 12 St. John's on Jan. 2. 
• Prior to the national anthem, Rutgers observed a moment of silence in remembrance of former Director of Basketball Operations Dennis Gregory.
• Today was the annual Letterwinners Day. At halftime, more than 60 Rutgers basketball letterwinners were introduced and recognized for their contributions to the program.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell 
Opening Statement: "We had a really good crowd today. I want to thank all the fans, the students, and the community that showed up. Obviously, not the result we wanted today. We got off to a good start but hit a lull there around the 15-point mark. We turned the ball over a lot in the first half and you cannot spot a team like them that big of a lead. We played a lot better in the second half, having zero turnovers in the half after 11 in the first. The shooting percentage went way up, but you cannot spot a team that well coached and a great program that big of a lead."
 
On deficiencies in the big run by Maryland to close out the first half: "I just kept telling the guys to get a shot up. We had a bad stretch where we turned the ball over way too many times. We are a good rebounding team, they are terrific at it, so we were even on the glass. Those turnovers and with a young team when the ball is not going in, they do not lock down and defend like they are supposed to and we need to fix that. We have moments the turnovers and poor play on offense affects the other side of the ball, we had that during that stretch and we were never able to recover from that."
 
On Montez Mathis getting career high in points: "I thought we played hard all game. Eugene (Omoruyi) being in foul trouble did not help us, but Montez came and attacked the rim. He has been getting better and better. I need him in attack mode like that every time. He had a tough job covering the elite guard, (Anthony) Cowan on the other side. He was thrown straight to the fire and did a good job. He got into foul trouble too and had to live through that adversity."
 
On the depth of the Big Ten Conference: "I watched a lot of games this week and it is the best league in the country. This league is a monster, there are obstacles at every turn. All the teams are well coached, traditionally great programs, with coaches that have been there for a while and good players, Maryland is one of them. The league is as deep as it has ever been. It just makes it harder to break through. It is a tough challenge night in and night out. I wanted this challenge when I came here, and so did our players. That is the challenge we are faced with."
 
On slow start by Geo Baker: "He is a good player and has moved in the scouting report. He has to be the better than their best defensive player and plug through some adversity. He is a great kid, coachable and a good listener. We just need a lot of guys to step it up especially someone with his abilities."
 
On getting the ball inside in the second half: "We turned the ball over a lot. We throw the ball inside and they doubled team us and we turned the ball over in the first half. With having 11 turnovers in the first half and then 0 in the second, made it easier for us to get more shot attempts in the second half. We got great looks outside on the three-point line and also in the lane, but we have to finish some tough shots like Maryland did today."
 
On the offensive pace: "We got off to a great start on offense with the pace. One of our characteristics is that our offense affects our defense. In the second half, we got more stops and push the ball up a little bit and do some better things. We just have to keep plugging at it. We had that stretch where we had four turnovers in five possessions and that breaks a lot momentum. When Montez (Mathis) was driving to the hoop and called for an offensive foul on a 50-50 call that hurt us a bit as we were getting some momentum and getting ready to push through. You need some breaks, we have been getting off to great starts and then struggling in the second half, today it was reversed. The second half today was much more like how I want us to play. We had to get through foul trouble in the first half and worked through that. We played like the way we needed to in the second half, but they had too much of a cushion to make it a game."
 
Maryland Head Coach Mark Turgeon
Opening statement: "Obviously, it is hard to win on the road. So to win the way we did was good. More importantly, it's how we're playing, we're getting better. We gained a lot of confidence in getting a close win the other night. We knew we were going to get Rutgers' best shot, especially early. They had time to get ready for us. And they played great, the energy in the building was terrific. And then we were just really good. As good as we've been defensively, we were as good as we've been offensively and shared the ball. We finished the first half the right way. We played a little bit like a younger team in the second half, lost our concentration a little bit. We played a lot of guys. Five guys in double figures, only had 11 turnovers on the road, 15 assists. It was a quick turnaround and it was great to see a lot of Terps in the building. It is always great to see their support."
 
On building depth: "I wasn't trying to send a message to the players, or to Bruno (Fernando) or Anthony (Cowan). I'm just trying to build depth. I thought Bruno was tired and I thought Anthony was tired during that stretch. I think we started making shots, getting to the foul line and our defense was terrific. I didn't mention Darryl, but how good was Darryl Morsell today defensively? Especially in the first half against a really good player, (Geo) Baker who had our attention. Darryl always has to guard the best guy and he keeps stepping up. He was great. We're building depth. After we lost to Seton Hall I said we have to build depth, we are getting tired late in games. Guys have stepped up and played well."
 
On Serrel Smith Jr.: "It is kind of amazing how far Serrel has come defensively from where he was when we got him in June, and how committed he is to being a good defender. He got his hands on a lot of balls and got some steals. He was terrific. We all know he can score. He could shoot every time if I let him. He has really come a long ways fast and is gaining confidence."
 
On winning on the road: "It was good for all of us. I think we are always getting more confident. People are going to forget that five of our top eight guys are freshmen. Pretty amazing what these young guys are doing to be honest with you. We are talented. The key is to keep getting better. That's important to all of them. I thought Aaron (Wiggins) had a great second half, defended well. And they are all playing with confidence. And even Ivan (Bender). Ivan had six rebounds in limited time. We have games every three days forever. So it is good to be able to play our bench tonight."
 
On depth of the Big Ten and Rutgers: "I'm a nervous wretch just thinking about our schedule and how young we are. It is hard to get over the hump when you're young. I don't know their schedule, I haven't looked at it. They're clearly a better team than they've been. We were terrific today. We were really good. But I think (Rutgers) is going to win some games here and I think they are going to win some road games. They played Wisconsin tough on the road. It is hard to get over the hump. They don't lose a lot and Steve (Pikiell) is building it the right way, getting his players. It's a process. As the year goes on they'll get better. In the future they have a chance to be really good."
 
On Montez Mathis: "He was fired up. There are so many guys in our area, I feel like every game we're playing against a guy that wanted to play at Maryland. I was happy for him. When he made that three in the first half after he had the dunk. He's great kid, we recruited him and have known him for a long time. I'm happy for him. He's a big piece for them, really helping them, is really good defensively brings energy. And puts foul pressure on you. He's a good piece for them."
 
On three pointers: "I think we missed a lot of open ones and made some big ones. Instead of getting down to 12 and 10 or nine, we were able to keep (the lead) from 15 to 18 and 20. We had some really great ball movement. Bruno (Fernando) had five assists and two turnovers. You watched him last year. It's huge how far that kid has come. He sees all different types of double teams and help down. I'm really proud of him. We made some timely shots."
 
On the schedule: "I think we are going to take tomorrow off. I think we need to. We've been hitting these guys pretty hard. Take a full day off and kind of get refreshed. We have Minnesota Tuesday, Indiana Friday and Wisconsin the following Monday."
 
On starting slow: "I think it was the building, I think it was the nervous. They were fairly jacked up. They were fired up and ready to play. To be honest with you, I thought we started pretty well considering we were 2-for-12 to start. We are who we are, but we are getting better. We are talented and figuring it out."