PISCATAWAY – Rutgers (4-1) led from start to finish, limiting Stephen F. Austin (4-1) to 31.5 points below its season scoring average, in a 69-57 victory on Wednesday night at the RAC. Caleb McConnell was 5-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc, with six rebounds to help spark the convincing win.

"I thought we were ready to play from the onset and every guy that checked in to the game had to give us great minutes," said head coach Steve Pikiell. "That's probably one of the most physical teams we're going to see all year. They were forcing 27.5 turnovers-per-game, they were eleventh in the nation with 88.5 points-per-game. They're in the top 20 in scoring and we were able to hold them to 57 points."

Akwasi Yeboah shot 4-of-5 to add 13 points and join McConnell in double digits, along with Ron Harper Jr (11) and Geo Baker (11). Three of Harper's four field goals came from behind the arc, while Baker dished-out a game-high four assists.

The Scarlet Knights limited the Lumberjacks to just two 3-pointers (2-of-13) and out-rebounded the visitors by a 34-31 margin. Myles Johnson grabbed a team-best eight boards and issued a career-best four blocks.

"Everyone helped and contributed in this game," said Pikiell. "It was a big win for us, a big step. I thought we grew tonight."

Rutgers jumped out to an 8-0 lead behind three-pointers from McConnell and Harper Jr. A Shaq Carter slam dunk provided a 17-10 advantage, as RU extended its lead to as much as 14 in the opening half. The Lumberjacks would not relent, however, rallying late in the frame. The Scarlet Knights entered the locker room at the midpoint with a 31-26 advantage.

The Scarlet Knights shot 52.2 percent (12-of-23) prior to the break and deposited six 3-pointers (6-of-14).

SFA cut its deficit to four, 38-34, with 15 minutes remaining, but the home team responded with an 8-0 run to push its lead back into double-digits. The Scarlet Knights expanded their advantage to 16 and held off the persistent Lumberjacks, who drew to within seven, to earn the 12-point win.

"They knew the game plan and they stuck to it," said Pikiell. "I thought we had tremendous focus tonight. This is a really good rebounding team, and I thought down the stretch there, we were able to maybe wear them down, whereas they've been wearing others down."

Rutgers returns to the hardwood Tuesday evening to host NJIT in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The contest will be televised live on BTN. Fans can secure single game tickets and flex ticket plans online or by calling 866-445-GORU (4678).

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POSTGAME NOTES 

• Rutgers is now 28-4 in non-conference home games under Pikiell.
• Rutgers held SFA to 31.5 points below its season scoring average (88.5). The Lumberjacks made two 3-pointers, the fewest by an RU foe since Wisconsin also deposited two (2-of-13) at the RAC on Jan. 5, 2018.
• Myles Johnson had a career-high four blocks, his second game this season and third of his career with three or more rejections.
• Johnson led the team in rebounding for the first time this season and ninth time in his career.
• The Scarlet Knights led for the game's entirety, marking the second time this season (Niagara) that RU hasn't trailed in a contest.
• Ron Harper Jr. scored in double figures for the third time this season and 13^th time in his career.
• Caleb McConnell reached double-digit points for the second time this season and seventh time in his career.
• McConnell paced RU in scoring for the second time this season and the third time in his career.
• Akwasi Yeboah scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and 74th time in his career.
• Geo Baker scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and 46th time in his career.
• Rutgers observed a moment of silence before tip-off in memory of 10-year old Micah Tennant, who passed away Wednesday as a result of a gunshot wound sustained during a high school football game this past Friday evening.

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell

Opening Statement: "Thank you guys as always. I very much appreciate everyone coming out. The students were great tonight. The fans got us excited. I'm proud of my team I thought today was a big step for us. That's an NCAA Tournament team. They're well coached, they have the player of the year in the league, who was named in the draft last year and took it out. I thought we were ready to play from the onset and every guy that checked in to the game had to give us great minutes. That's probably one of the most physical teams we're going to see all year. They were forcing 27.5 turnovers-per-game, they were eleventh in the nation with 88.5 points-per-game. They're in the top 20 in scoring and we were able to hold them to 57 points. I thought our guys were locked in on that end of the floor. Everyone helped and contributed in this game. It was a big win for us, a big step. I thought we grew tonight and I'm very thankful to everyone coming out and supporting Rutgers nation."

On Akwasi Yeboah: "He had two great practices leading up to this. He's mature, he really brings that steadiness. He's a good foul shooter too. He's got good poise; he's been in a lot of games. Just a huge addition for us maturity-wise and basketball-wise. I think he's one of the best shooters too in the Big Ten. So, to have him here and his leadership and his maturity it really helps our team a great deal."

On second half with six turnovers: "Well they'll tell you too, they forced so many turnovers themselves, but I really thought we could force them. We actually forced 19 too ourselves. That goes to our length, that goes to when our guys are engaged. They knew the game plan, they stuck to it. I thought we had tremendous focus tonight. This is a really good rebounding team, and I thought down the stretch there, we were able to maybe wear them down, whereas they've been wearing others down. I thought we did a great job closing out on threes, which hasn't been a strength of our team. So, I think that stretch there with six, we challenged shots, we kept them in front of us, they turned the ball over and we went on a little run. It was a huge stretch of the game.

On SFAs substitutions: "They play a ton of guys, double figure, minutes. I thought we did a good job. Paul Mulcahy gave us great minutes off the bench. Mamadou Doucoure was great today. That kid was strong in the post. He's the most physical guy and when Douc came in and hasn't played as much as I'm sure he would like, but he was ready to play tonight. We needed his physicality and his rebounding. Jacob Young came in and did his thing. I like the minutes from everybody. Caleb was in foul trouble so we had to bob and weave a little bit. Myles got in foul trouble, but guys that came off the bench were ready, and it was a good team win. I know people haven't heard of this team and this team has won a zillion games in the last 6 or 7 years, 88.5 points a game, they're one of the leading scoring teams in the country. For us to sit down and guard that team it was a good sign."

On improvement: "Obviously, I wanted our defense to change a great deal. I've got to give St. Bonnie's credit, they made some really tough shots, but 80 points is too much when you go on the road. That's not who I want to be, that's not how I want to win basketball games. Caleb and 'Kwasi were locked in and I loved our focus. I thought we had two really good practices, we have to continue to grow, we're still a young basketball team. We showed some signs in all these games to start the year. We've got to get better in a lot of ways, but it's a really nice win tonight and I'm very thankful to Rutgers nation for coming out."

On Jacob Young: "He had 604 days off before (this season). He's getting into game shape and the games are very different. He made some big plays for us tonight defensively and offensively and today was a difficult game too. With turnovers and that team forces you to play a little bit differently. I like the way he's maturing I like the way that he's sitting down and guarding people. He's made a real emphasis on that end of the floor. I think better days ahead for him."

On a week off: "They need some time off. Bodies have had quite a stretch here; they were a little banged up. But you got to get better, it's a great week to get better. Devour film. (There's a) game coming up. Learn from our first five games, some different things, put in some new stuff. Get ready for the war that is ahead of us.

Stephen F. Austin Head Coach Kyle Keller

On first road test of the season: "I thought Rutgers just punched us in the mouth and kept punching us for 40 minutes. I didn't think we were any good. I give coach (Steve) Pikiell all the credit in the world. They dominated the game and they played really well. They took us out of what we wanted to do. The aggressive team always wins, and they were much more aggressive than we were tonight."

On Rutgers impacting shot selection: "Maybe. I just didn't think we willed ourselves to where we're supposed to get to tonight. I just didn't think we were any good. The pace was too slow. We didn't get our pace to where we wanted to. We were just very tentative tonight."

On learning from this game: "When you get embarrassed like that, you better learn something. I thought they really took the fight to us. I think that's been one of the strengths of our team. We've been really aggressive, very physical and played really fast. I thought they played at the right tempo and picked times to run. They made it a half-court game and we got pretty lethargic. I thought their experience with their guards, even though they have some new guys, they still have experience. I thought (Geo) Baker really dominated the game with the tempo."

On Steve Pikiell: "He's great. We both have lost our moms in the last 10 months or so. We were just talking about that and how you look at things differently. It's just a total different transition when you lose your mom, who is always there to support you. We were talked about it before the game and were talking once the game was over with. What a great guy he is. I wish him the very best. He's a really, really good basketball coach in our profession. I told him the worst thing that could happen to us was them losing to St. Bonaventure the other day. I thought their kids were tremendous tonight. He may disagree, but I thought tonight was their best game so far, that I'd seen. They had toughness, energy and I thought their kids rose up. He may not agree, but that's what I thought."