BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Rutgers got back to its winning ways, defeating Indiana 74-70 on Sunday at Assembly Hall. The Scarlet Knights (8-6, 4-6) were led by 19 points from
Geo Baker in the victory over the Hoosiers (9-7, 4-5). Rutgers has now won four of the past five matchups against Indiana.
Ron Harper Jr. had a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Rutgers shot 51 percent from the field, its best mark in Big Ten play.
The Scarlet Knights came out of the gates with strong shooting, making five-of-six shots to open the game, and using a 10-0 run to take a 15-8 lead. The team's continued to trade runs in the opening half. RU used a 7-0 run to take a 22-16 lead, but Indiana countered again.
Jacob Young gave the Scarlet Knights a spark off the bench, teaming up with
Geo Baker for consecutive big plays. First Young whipped a cross-court pass that find Baker in the corner for a triple, then he had a steal to start a fast break leading to a Baker dunk. That stretch fired up the Rutgers squad, who retook the lead. At halftime, the Scarlet Knights held a 38-33 lead.
In the second half, the Scarlet Knights extended the lead to double-digits with a 7-0 run, and went up by 14 points (55-41) with 11:54 to play and was able to hold on to that lead.
Next up for the Scarlet Knights is a return home to The RAC. RU will welcome in Michigan State for a 7 p.m. contest on Thursday, January 28, that will air on FS1. Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson will be on the call.
- This was Rutgers' first ever win at Assembly Hall.
- It marked Rutgers' fourth Big Ten win of the season. The Scarlet Knights have only previously reached four Big Ten wins in a season twice since joining the league in 2014-15.
- It was Rutgers' fourth win against Indiana. That ties for the most conference wins against any Big Ten opponent (also four vs. Penn State, Minnesota and Nebraska).
- Rutgers has won four of the past five against Indiana. That is the first time for RU winning four out of five games against a Big Ten foe since joining the league.
- Geo Baker passed Don Parsons and Steve Kaplan to move into 27th all-time at RU in scoring
- It was his first time this season leading the team in scoring (fourth time in double-figures)
- Ron Harper Jr. had his second double-double of the season.
- He set a career-high in rebounding (12).
- Myles Johnson tied his career-highs with five blocks and three steals.
- Johnson now has 101 career blocks, moving past Kadeem Jack and Gene Armstead for sole possesion of 11th place all-time at RU.
- Rutgers used its sixth different starting lineup of the season, starting Geo Baker, Paul Mulcahy, Caleb McConnell, Ron Harper Jr. and Myles Johnson. McConnell made his first start of the season. Ron Harper Jr. is the only player to start in every game he's been active for this season.
Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "Indiana is really good. To win here on the road against a really well coached team, and a team that has been playing great. I thought our guys had to fight through a lot of adversity today. I was proud of them. They stuck together. But Indiana is really good. Archie does a great job. They are tough, talented and we were connected today. I love the fact that we out rebounded. I like the fact that everyone got in made valuable contributions. Our bench was great, and we are on to Michigan State in three days. It is going to be another tough challenge ahead."
On the changes to the starting lineup: "I liked how we played. It helped us on the backboards. I liked how the guys came off the bench and responded. You make changes when you feel like there is a need for it, and we were not getting off to good starts at the beginning of games. But we were real connected today. The credit to our guys and their grinding through a tough time and figuring out a way to win in a place we have not had any success here on the road."
On Geo Baker's game: "Geo is a good player. Again, I thought really everyone had great numbers today. We have not been rebounding well, a huge stat for us. And Geo has been very involved. Could not take him off the court at a couple points. We needed some breaks but I thought we were, again, real connected. I was not just him. I thought Miles did an unbelievable job, Trayce Jackson-Davis, one of the best players in players in the country averages 20 points a game and had had 30s in games, did a really good job on him as best as you can do. Myles (Johnson) stepped up, Paul (Mulcahy) does all the things you need him to do. I thought Caleb (McConnell) gave us great energy. Jacob (Young) gave us great energy off the bench. Cliff (Omoruyi) was a real bright spot in the first half, and Ron Harper the whole game was very involved vocally, and to grab 12 rebounds was huge life for us."
Indiana Head Coach Archie Miller
Opening Statement: "I'm disappointed for our guys. Like I told them after the game, I'm not disappointed in the results, I'm disappointed for them. I think the attitude; work ethic and the togetherness has been as good as its every been here. The workload going into Iowa was exactly the same coming from Iowa. Every single game in this league requires you to play, not only hard and tough and all that stuff, smart, but you have to play well too. You have to play well to be in these games. Rutgers is a great team and they have had a great season. They have had some trouble coming in, battling some injuries and they are a bonafide big time team, just like Iowa was. We were able to be successful and crack the Iowa game with our defense. Today, Rutgers did a really good job with dribble penetration. We had a hard time keeping them off the bounce, in particular on the perimeter. Offensively, to start the second half, the game really changed with five turnovers in the first four or five minutes. We had three turnovers at halftime, finished with 12. Ended up having nine turnovers in the second half, which to me was the big difference in the game. We could have made more layups. We didn't finish around the basket very well. Finishing the game with 12 turnovers after having three at the half is a big difference in the complexion of the game. For 40 minutes defensively, they gave us a hard time guarding the ball. It is one of 20, like the Iowa game was, like I told them after the Iowa game. Everyone is going to talk about how great it was, but the bottom line is Rutgers is just as good and the next one is going to be just as good and they all count the same."
On if Rutgers did anything that surprised him: "No. Coming into the game talking about what we needed to do in the game and how we worked into the game there weren't any surprises. I thought them changing their lineup but Baker in much more primary role. Young has been way more primary with the ball in his hands. I thought Baker had a really good day. McConnell played a lot more today. Mulcahy played a lot more today. In general, I thought they got a lot of contributions from a lot of players that have been playing for them. There wasn't a whole lot of secrets. They did what they did. I thought we had a difficult time keeping the ball in front."
On the play of Trayce Jackson-Davis: "I'm not real sure. I will say this that Myles Johnson is one of the best interior defenders in the country. I have been saying that since he was a young guy. He has unbelievable instincts in stealing the ball as a big guy; around the shoulders of the post guys, elbow catches, deflected passes. He has quick hands and unbelievable length. The thing is he does a great job at doing it. He can stay between you and the basket with his size, but he also has unbelievable timing when he blocks shots. I think early in the game it takes a while to get used to, playing against a guy like him because its not easy. As the game went on, you can tell how he impacted the game with his defensive plays. Trayce didn't get as many clean ones. You couldn't get it to him as much. It is a by-product of their team in general. Defensively, they are always known for their stickiness, but he definitely impacts the game on a defensive front. Obviously, we play them later in the year, and we have to do a better job at getting him established like we do in every game. This wasn't one his best offensive performances, and you have to give Rutgers credit for that."
