PISCATAWAY – Ron Harper Jr. scored 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting and Myles Johnson had a double-double with a career-high 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead Rutgers (5-1) to an 85-58 win over NJIT (2-5) Tuesday evening at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights dished-out 22 assists and out-rebounded the Highlanders by a 39-25 margin to improve to 29-4 in non-conference home games under Steve Pikiell.
"I just like the way this team is starting to defend and play together," said Pikiell. "It was Myles' night tonight. Every night it's somebody different chipping in and I love that. Myles has been in foul trouble, to keep him involved tonight was a great thing. I'm just very thankful for the good win that we had tonight."
Harper exceeded 20 points for the second time and was just two points shy of his career-best scoring output. Johnson complemented the performance by making eight of 11 from the field. The duo was joined in double digits by Geo Baker and Caleb McConnell, who contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively.
The Scarlet Knights shot 58.3 percent (35-of-60), while limiting NJIT to a 20-of-56 (35.7%) performance. RU's efforts in the paint boosted the percentage and resulted in a 50-24 scoring advantage in the lane.
"I though we got out and ran today," said Pikiell. "I thought we got good looks and we were able to throw the ball into the post to all the guys that came into the game. Ron gives you another dimension in the post."
The Highlanders made six of their initial eight shots to jump-out to a 14-9 lead. The Rutgers' defense clamped down on the visitors in response, permitting just three field goals for the remainder of the half. The Scarlet Knights, conversely, deposited nine of 14 entering the break to establish a 36-22 advantage at the midpoint.
Johnson and Harper had 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the opening stanza.
Rutgers remained hot after intermission, making seven consecutive field goal attempts to take a 51-28 lead. The Scarlet Knights' advantage increased to as much as 32 points before sealing the 27-point victory.
"Good things happen when everyone touches the ball and everyone plays team basketball and I thought we had that tonight," added Pikiell.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood for a Black Friday matinee versus UMass at 2 p.m. The contest will be streamed live from the RAC via BTN Plus. 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 29-4 in non-conference home games under Pikiell.
- The Scarlet Knights outrebounded their opponent for the sixth time in as many games this season.
- Rutgers had 22 assists, its second time this season with 22 helpers (Niagara)
- Myles Johnson scored a career-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and grabbed a career-best tying 11 rebounds. He registered double figures for the second time this season and eighth time in his career.
- Johnson had his fifth career double-double and the first for a Rutgers player this season.
- NJIT guard Zach Cooks, who entered the game fourth nationally in scoring (25.5) was limited to a season-low 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting.
- Ron Harper Jr. scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and 14th time in his career. He eclipsed 20 points for the first time this season and the second time in his career.
- Harper Jr. had a career-high 12 field goals made.
- Geo Baker scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and 47th time in his career.
- Caleb McConnell scored in double digits for the third time this season and eight time in his career.
- Paul Mulcahy had a career-best seven assists.
- Montez Mathis tied his career-high with three steals.
- Joey Downes made a career-high two free throws.
- Rutgers improves to 7-0 all-time against the Highlanders.
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: Great crowd tonight — the students came out even though school is getting ready to empty out and I appreciate that very much. We had a good team win today, everyone contributed. A lot of respect for NJIT, I love their coach (Brian Kennedy). They have the fifth-leading scorer in the country, I thought we did a really good job of taking care of him and making a long night for him. He's really talented, he scored 35 and 30 in his last two games. I just like the way this team is starting to defend and play together. It was Myles (Johnson's) night tonight. Every night (it's) somebody different chipping in and I love that. Myles has been in foul trouble, to keep him involved tonight was a great thing. Just very thankful for the good win that we had today."
On team's performance: I though we got out and ran today. I though we got good looks and we were able to throw the ball into the post to all the guys that came into the game. Ron gives you another dimension in the post, I think Akwasi (Yeboah) can post too. Keeping Myles out of foul trouble (was) huge. I love the fact that our two guards had 12 assists and two turnovers between Geo (Baker) and Paul (Mulcahy). They're sharing the game. I love the fact that we had 22 assists. That's what happens when the ball goes inside. Good things happen when everyone touches the ball and everyone plays team basketball and I thought we had that tonight."
On adjustments after first 10 minutes of game: "I just thought we attacked them a little bit more. The last 10 minutes of the half they only scored four points, we gave up 18 early. I didn't like our detail (early). I think we pushed it up, we got the ball running up and down, we made some adjustments not to get backdoored. I thought our guys stuck with the plan. The guard (Zach Cooks) is really good. He's been playing great basketball, I thought that was the key the whole game. Kinda made it tough for Cooks to get good looks. He's an important part of their offense. Our guys took the game plan and executed it. It was a good sign."
On having long rest period after last game: "We got a couple days just to prepare for what's ahead. We got a quick turnaround here coming up with UMass. Any time we get some days off, we can put in some new actions, we can do some different things defensively. We had some good practices leading up to this and I think our guys are locked in."
On defending Zach Cooks: "We're going to see some great guards. I think any time you can take a guy who's been a very focal part of their offense and throw different looks at them. We have length, we have some speed. Geo got him, Jacob Young got him did a real good job. Caleb (McConnell) with his length (and) Montez (Mathis) started on him. Whenever you can keep throwing different bodies at guys and fresh bodies I think it makes it difficult. And he saw a lot of different looks and that's what we wanted. I think he was uncomfortable most of the night.
On Athletic Director Pat Hobbs: "Pat Hobbs is by far — (in) 26 years of doing this job, I've worked for, I don't know, eight, nine,10 athletics directors — by far the best I've ever worked with. He has done so many things in my three years here for Rutgers. It's a very difficult job any time you're an athletic director (or) head coach. It's a lot of agendas. He has been for the student athletes, he has been for the coaches — my staff, the players in my program. (He) built new buildings, raised 100 million dollars. I think what people forget about is all the great things (he has done) — and we're so into the negative — this guy's great and he's a great person. The stuff needs to stop. He's done a great job and he's going to go down as one of the best athletic directors Rutgers has ever had. I hope you print that and quote me on it and understand the job that he has done in the last four years. There hadn't been a new building built here since 1977. We just got into the best league in the country. Some teams in this league have been in this league for 125 years. We just got in this league 5 years ago. When I took the job, I said 'Pat, we're in the best league in the country.' He goes 'I know we are. We're in the best league academically and sports-wise, with traditions and all those things. We're going to stay the course, we're going to continue to build programs.' And he certainly has done that in so many ways. It's very unfortunate (that) the narrative has completely changed. These are very, very difficult jobs. He has a lot of sports that he has to think about and there's a lot of issues that people aren't talking about that he also has to make decisions on. When you're dealing with these kinds of contracts there's a lot of things that can go wrong. I know that when he offered me the job, I reached over the table and I shook his hand. I don't think we ever talked about anything other than, 'I want the job.' And I'm very fortunate and blessed. He gave me this opportunity. This is an unbelievable university. I think you guys needs to understand it's one of the best academic institutions in the country. (There are) so many good things are going on here at Rutgers. My son is a part of this freshman class, it's the most competitive freshman class ever to come into Rutgers University. Academically, buildings are being built. It's the toughest time to get in here, we play in the best league in the country. I'd like people to start talking about that. I'm honored to be here and I'm honored to work under a guy like Pat Hobbs. I'll go to war with him any day of the week."
Rutgers sophomore Ron Harper Jr.
On the key to the game: "We were able to put them away with our defense today. After their quick start, we went into the huddle, we said that we needed to stick to our principles. That defense helped us put them away."
On Myles Johnson: "That was the emphasis today, to get him the ball more. You saw him on the block, those post moves. When he's having a day like that, everyone focuses on him and turns their backs, and he's a great passer, he's able to find people on the perimeter. When his game is clicking, that opens up a lot for everybody."
On AD Pat Hobbs: "Coach Pikiell was 150% correct. Pat Hobbs is a great guy. I can't speak enough about how much he has done, not just for me, but for this program as a whole. Like Coach Pikiell said, it's crazy how the narrative flips. It's a hard job to take, being the athletic director. If one thing goes wrong, you are under fire for a week. You saw that this week, one thing happens and everyone goes rogue on him. People inside the program, people inside Rutgers, know how great of a guy Pat Hobbs is. He's a fearless leader, he really is. He's leading us into battle every day, and we trust him. As a team, as a program, as a community, Rutgers loves him. Hopefully, that love comes back soon."
NJIT Head Coach Brian Kennedy
On Rutgers' defense on Zach Cooks: "I think, especially after the 10-minute mark, Rutgers did a great job of using their size and physicality to push us out. We were starting our offense way out, past normally where we would. I think that was the difference in the game. I think they did a terrific job. I know (Steve Pikiell) used some different people on Zach (Cooks). Montez (Mathis) did a nice job on him as well as the other guys coming into the game. It definitely threw Zach off for sure."
On Myles Johnson: "Myles (Johnson) had a career night tonight with 17 (points) and 11 (rebounds). He's a big, long guy and when he gets the ball in close, he's going to score it. We needed to do a better job of resistance in there and making it harder to throw the ball in. Myles is 6-11 and a really long and talented player."
On turning point in the first half: "They definitely picked up their defense after the timeout. They came up and picked up full court, started pressuring us and playing more physical, and pushing us out. We normally start our offense at the three-point line and in and we're out by the hash marks. I think the full-court pressure that they put on got them going a little bit more. There was a focus to deny entries and not to get back-cut and so forth. I think their pressure really hurt us. That was the difference right around the 10-11 minute mark, they amped it up. I don't know what Steve (Pikiell) said in the timeout to get them going, but they were a more focused and more physical team on defense for sure."
On playing at a Big Ten opponent in state: "For us, it's a great opponent to play a Big Ten school. We have a very young team even though we have some returning players. We have nine freshman and sophomores, so the experience that they get from being in a Big Ten atmosphere and getting out against Big Ten players. The size and physicality of the Rutgers team really hurt us. For the young kids, the experience of going against them is a great experience."
On Zach Cooks: "Zach (Cooks) didn't play his best tonight and I think he'd be the first one to tell you. We have to get back and get to work. I think when a team does try to take out a player as they did, and chase him around, face-guard him and not let him get into scoring positions, he needs to find some other ways to get involved in the game to get himself going. Particularly, one of the ways I would like is for him when he gets it, drives it and all the attention is there, to kick to open guys that are out there. I think that would free him up some more to get his shot. That's one of the things we're going to get for Zach out of this game."
Gallery: (11/26/2019) Men's Basketball Defeats NJIT
