PISCATAWAY – Four players scored in double figures to help Rutgers (6-1) to a definitive, 82-57, win over UMass (5-3) Friday afternoon at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights posted 54 points in the paint and totaled 34 fast break points to improve to 30-4 in non-conference home games under head coach Steve Pikiell.
"We almost had five guys in double figures," said Pikiell. "We shared the game and our defense was outstanding. It was a good win in a great environment and I'm very thankful to Rutgers nation, the students, they made it loud."
Geo Baker had 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Ron Harper Jr. contributed 15 points, making 5-of-10 field goal attempts. Caleb McConnell and Jacob Young both added 10 points to spark a 53.4 percent (31-of-58) shooting performance highlighted by nine slam dunks, including seven after the break.
"I liked how we attacked, especially in the second half," said Pikiell. "We weren't trying to get fouls, we were trying to attack and score. It was good on both ends of the ball today."
UMass deposited eight of its initial 16 shots to jump-out to a 20-14 lead. The RU defense clamped down on the visitors, permitting just two field goals for the remainder of the opening stanza. The Scarlet Knights entered the locker room at the midpoint with a 34-27 advantage, sparked by Harper Jr's 13 points.
Rutgers made 11 of 14 from the field to start the second half and never looked back. Baker had 13 points and Young added eight, as RU shot 66.7 percent (18-of-27) over the final 20 minutes.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood for a Big Ten-ACC Challenge match-up versus Pittsburgh on Tuesday in the Steel City. The contest will tip-off at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
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POSTGAME NOTES
- Four Rutgers players scored in double digits for the fourth straight game.
- The Scarlet Knights achieved season highs in both points in the paint (54) and fast break points (34). It marked the most for Rutgers in the paint against a D-I opponent since scoring 60 against CCSU on Dec. 6, 2016. The 34 fast break points is the most by a Pikiell-coached RU team.
- Rutgers is now 30-4 in non-conference home games under Pikiell.
- The Scarlet Knights outrebounded their opponent for the seventh time in as many games this season.
- Rutgers held UMass, which entered the game averaging 71.6 points, to 14.6 points below its season scoring average.
- The Scarlet Knights forced 19 Minutemen turnovers, 7.9 above their season average (11.1)
- Ron Harper Jr. scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and 15th time in his career.
- Myles Johnson grabbed 10 rebounds, his second game this season and sixth of his career with double-digit boards.
- Caleb McConnell scored in double digits for the fourth time this season and ninth time in his career.
- Geo Baker scored in double figures for the sixth time this season and 48th time in his career.
- Baker had four steals. It was his first time this season and 12th time in his career with three or more steals.
- Jacob Young scored in double figures for the first time in a Rutgers uniform and the 10th time in his career.
- Rutgers now leads the all-time series with the Minutemen 29-20
- The win was the 50th for head coach Steve Pikiell at Rutgers
POSTGAME QUOTES
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "Happy Thanksgiving and I appreciate you guys coming on a day after a big holiday. I'm very thankful that you're (all) here and I'm very thankful for my team. It was a dangerous game with two days to prepare, with one of those prep days (being) Thanksgiving. I thought they were really locked in. We were very concerned with Tre Mitchell, very much so. I thought we did a real good job on him. We almost had five guys in double figures. We shared the game and our defense was outstanding. It was a good win in a great environment and I'm very thankful to Rutgers nation — the students, they made it loud. It was a really good environment today. I very much appreciate everyone coming out on this crazy day."
On team's offensive tempo: "The way UMass plays (and) with only two days to prepare, we wanted to be really aggressive. We have a lot of ball handlers, so it plays right into what we want to do anyway. More importantly, just sitting down and guarding them. Even the shots that they made were tough, contested shots, (with the) shot clock running down, bank shots, things like that. (I) really felt good about our defense, but we can score. I liked how we attacked, especially in the second half. We weren't trying to get fouls, we were trying to attack and score. It was good on both ends of the ball today."
On breaking UMass' full-court pressure: "I loved it. For only having a day to prepare, I thought we were really solid with how we did. We do have a lot of guys that can handle the basketball which really helps us. Got a little scattered at times, but for only two days to prepare, I thought we did a good job attacking at the score."
On not letting teams back into games: "When our defense is locked in like that — it's when our defense gets a lapse, it becomes the problem. I think they're all learning. Jacob (Young) did a really good job of putting pressure on the ball and getting us going. Caleb (McConnell) always does a good job, Geo (Baker) got in some lanes, got some steals, Ron (Harper Jr.) with some big plays. When everyone chips in on that end of the floor and we are heating the ball up the way we were today, it makes a big difference for our teams and it helps you continue your lead in a game like that."
On upcoming stretch of games: "This was a tough stretch here, with this game with no time to prepare and now we have to go to Pittsburgh with no time to prepare. Tomorrow's our NCAA day off. We'll go there — when you're on the road it's always different, it's a different environment. These guys have been on the road before, (we're) going to have to play really good basketball against a good program and a good, well-coached Pitt team. Our guys will hopefully be ready for that next challenge in this journey."
On what team can improve on: "I think we've gotten better, too, defensively. I just want us to continue to become an elite defensive team and an elite rebounding team. Today we weren't (an elite rebounding team) at times, we gave up too many shots, especially down the stretch, second shots. We can be a really good rebounding team, too. Those are two areas we have to continue to work on and could make it for a real special season if we can really get that down."
UMass Head Coach Matt McCall
On the game: "I thought that was the best Rutgers has played all year. I've been watching them on tape. Rutgers, I love their team, I love their size, I love their physicality. That really showed today in today's game and had us rattled. We were rattled on offense. We weren't really able to overcome some unforced turnovers. We have to get that corrected because obviously our schedule doesn't get any easier, but you got to give Rutgers a lot of credit, how they played. And I thought our guys competed but we're not there yet to get a win in a game like this on the road and a hostile environment."
On the change in the game in the first half: "It was a great environment on a Friday afternoon. Thanksgiving weekend. The fans really showed up here and got loud here behind the tea. We got three freshmen in the starting lineup. We got rattled at times, we really did. Sometimes the ball wasn't going in the basket for us, sometimes it was a complete lack of execution. And I told our guys, we don't have any breakdown guys. We have to stay in offense and keep the floor moving because it works. We've got to keep it moving. And when we try to go one on one, that's when we turn it over and we got to get a lot better."
On the team: "We're still kind of working on our rotations. And we got to continue to work on our rotations and different things like that. But again, offensively I thought we struggled with getting into a rhythm, got to give Rutgers credit for that but, this is what we're trying to build towards. To be able to win Big Ten games on the road in a hostile environment. We're not there yet. We're not there yet, and we got a long way to go. But I think a game like this today will prepare us for a game at home on Wednesday. We have to have three good days of practice before we play a big opponent at home on Wednesday."
Gallery: (11/29/2019) Men's Basketball Beats UMass
