NEW YORK, NY – No. 25 Rutgers (16-6, 7-4) out-rebounded Michigan (13-8, 4-6) by a 51-37 margin, but was unable to tweak the twine with consistency in a 69-63 loss to the Wolverines at Madison Square Garden on Big Ten Super Saturday.
Montez Mathis scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Scarlet Knights, who overcame a 14-point, second half deficit to get within two in the game's final minute.
"We were down and clawed back," said Rutgers head coach
Steve Pikiell. "We obviously rebounded, and our effort was great. We haven't had many nights where we didn't shoot the ball well. Some balls were in and out. Those are usually makes, but that happens in basketball. You have to figure out how to win."
RU's 51 boards signaled its most in a Big Ten regulation game and included 26 offensive rebounds. As a result, the Scarlet Knights established a 19-0 advantage in second chance points.
Despite the disparity on the glass, Rutgers could not stifle Michigan's Big Ten-leading field goal percentage offense. The Wolverines were 9-of-19 from behind the arc, while also benefitting from 13 more free throws than RU due to 19 more attempts at the charity stripe.
"They have some elite players," said Pikiell. "Our pick-and-roll defense wasn't elite, and it needed to be tonight. We still had chances to win though. It's a good sign. We're one of the youngest teams in the league and we are going to have games like that. I liked our grit and our toughness. It's not getting any easier down the stretch."
A pair of
Akwasi Yeboah 3-pointers provided Rutgers a 12-7 lead, before a 9-0 UM run returned the advantage to the Wolverines. Due to its 52.2 percent (12-of-23) first-half shooting mark, Michigan led by as much as 10 points before the break.
The Scarlet Knights continued to fight, drawing to within one point on two occasions in the final minute, before entering the locker room at the midpoint trailing 37-34.
A pair of Mathis buckets to start the second half and returned the lead to Rutgers. Michigan responded by scoring 16 of the contest's next 20 point to restore its advantage to double digits, before reaching 14 at 60-46 with nine minutes remaining.
The Scarlet Knights responded with a 14-3 burst to return the contest to a one possession game in the final minute. Unfortunately, RU would get no closer than two, as UM made its final six free throws to secure the victory.
"The people show up, they're proud," said Pikiell when asked about the large contingent of Rutgers fans. "Our guys deserve that support too. They've worked their tails off. It's a credit to how far they've come. I'm very appreciative of our fans. The rest of our home games are sold out and I love that."
Rutgers returns to action in a 7 p.m. tip-off on Tuesday at No. 15/15 Maryland. The game will be televised on FS1 with Tim Brando and Len Elmore on the call.
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POSTGAME NOTES
- Rutgers' 51 rebounds were its most ever in a Big Ten Conference regulation game.
- Rutgers' 83 field goal attempts were its most ever in a Big Ten Conference regulation game.
- Rutgers out-rebounded its opponent for the 17th time in 22 games.
- Montez Mathis (17) scored in double digits for the seventh time this season and 20th time in his career.
- Akwasi Yeboah scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and 82nd time in his career.
- Jacob Young (10) scored in double figures for the ninth time this season and 18th time in his career.
- Young had a career-high four steals.
- Caleb McConnell (10) scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and 15th time in his career.
Gallery: (2/1/2020) Men's Basketball Super Saturday
POSTGAME QUOTES
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "We didn't play our best game today, but you tip your hat to Michigan. They've been ranked this season. They are a really good team with talent and senior leadership. You have to shoot the ball better than we did in a game like that against a really good team. We had too many fouls, that hurt us too. We have two days now to prepare for a game against Maryland on the road. This is the best league in the country and the challenges that come are numerous. We'll be back and we'll be ready to play."
On the shooting: "On one possession we had seven layup attempts, so I certainly liked that possession. We had some decent looks. We got down and then we clawed back. We rebounded. The effort was great. We haven't had many nights where we just didn't shoot the ball well. Some balls were in and out. Those are usually makes, but that happens in basketball. You have to figure out how to win."
On defending the pick-and-roll: "We have to do a better job. We made a few adjustments. But, Teske's 7-foot-1. He's good. And they have a senior point guard that leads the nation in assists. They have some elite players. Obviously our pick-and-roll defense wasn't elite and it needed to be. But we still had chances to win. And that's a good sign. We're one of the youngest teams in the league. We're going to have games like that. I liked our grit and our toughness. It's not getting any easier down the stretch.
On the environment and the large number of Rutgers fans: "I love it. Rutgers is awesome. The people show up, they're proud. Our guys deserve that support too. They've worked their tails off. It's a credit to how far they've come. I'm very appreciative of our fans. The rest of our home games are sold out and I love that."
On Montez Mathis: "We're a very balanced team. Montez got us off to a good start. And I loved his defense, it was really spot on. These are all challenges for this young team to fight through. Now we have to prepare for a ranked team on the road. We don't have a lot of time to discuss this, just moving forward."
