PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's basketball (9-6, 5-6) registered a statement victory as it defeated Michigan State (8-5, 2-5), 67-37, on Thursday at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights opened the night on a 15-0 scoring run and outscored the Spartans, 41-17, in the second half to deliver their first win over MSU in program history.
RU's defense was suffocating throughout the game, as the 37 points allowed to Michigan State was the lowest for a Big Ten Conference opponent since joining the league in 2014-15. Rutgers held the Spartans to just 28 percent from the field, secured a 42-33 advantage on the glass and scored 33 points off of 21 MSU turnovers in the win.
Myles Johnson put together one of the best games of his collegiate career with game-highs in points (13), rebounds (14) and blocks (5) en route to his fourth double-double of the season.
Geo Baker (11) and
Jacob Young (10) joined Johnson in double figures, as Baker also produced a season-high five steals.
It was all Rutgers from the tip, as a 3-pointer from
Montez Mathis capped a 15-0 scoring run in the first five minutes of play. Michigan State would fight back to within three points down the stretch in the first half, but a jumper from Baker gave the Scarlet Knights a 26-20 lead at halftime.
RU sprang to another commanding lead out of the break, as a pair of free throws from
Ron Harper Jr. capped an 11-2 scoring run to put Rutgers up 37-22 with 16 minutes to play. The Scarlet Knights allowed just 17 points in the second half, as highlight dunks from Harper Jr. and Johnson down the stretch put an exclamation point on the conference victory.
Next up for the Scarlet Knights is another road game, the team's third over a four-game span. Rutgers plays at Northwestern on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. The game is on BTN.
- The win marked the first ever victory over Michigan State in program history.
- The margin of victory (+30) was the largest ever in a Big Ten game.
- The 37 points allowed was the fewest points Rutgers ever allowed in a Big Ten game.
- It marked the fewest surrendered in a conference game since since allowing 30 in a EAA loss to St. Bonaventure on Jan. 25, 1982.
- It represented Rutgers largest margin of victory in a conference game since Feb. 15, 2004 (85-52 vs. Virginia Tech) when it was in the Big East.
- In the shot clock era, Rutgers has allowed 40 or fewer points 10 times. Steve Pikiell has been the head coach in six of those games.
- It was the fewest points Rutgers allowed since a 63-36 win over Eastern Michigan on Nov. 1, 2018.
- Rutgers forced 21 turnovers, the most in a Big Ten game under Steve Pikiell. The previous most under Pikiell came in the first meeting against the Spartans this year (18).
- The 14 steals tied for the most ever in a Big Ten game for RU.
- Michigan State's 30-point loss was its largest defeat since a 98-63 loss to No. 1 North Carolina on Dec. 3, 2008.
- Rutgers held MSU to 28.6% shooting, tying for the lowest percentage ever against RU in a Big Ten game.
- It marked MSU's lowest scoring output since a loss at Iowa on Jan. 12, 2008.
- Myles Johnson had his fourth double-double this season (12th of his career).
- Johnson produced double-digit rebounds for the sixth time this season.
- Johnson moved into ninth place all-time at Rutgers in blocks, passing Sean Axani and JR Inman. He had five blocks, tying his career-high.
- Geo Baker set a career-high with five steals.
- Baker moved into 26th all-time at RU in scoring (1,158).
- Baker moved past Dane Miller and into 12th all-time at RU in steals (133).
- Rutgers debuted new uniforms that paid homage to the 1982-83 Scarlet Knights. That squad was the last Rutgers team to win an NCAA Tournament game.
- Freshman Aiden Terry made his career debut.
- Luke Nathan made his season debut.
Gallery: (1-28-2021) Men's Basketball Holds Down Michigan State
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "I have tremendous respect for Michigan State. Coach (Tom) Izzo is the best coach in the country. Just pleased our guys came out ready, we got out rebounded by 20 the last time we played them, huge key for us. We were connected, our bench was excellent, those guys came off our bench and gave us great energy. Our starters got us going, we really shared the basketball and obviously it's the first time we've ever beaten them so long, long overdue, but we defended, and we rebounded and when we do that, we are a pretty good basketball team. So we're on to Northwestern."
On holding MSU to 37 points: "Our guys were locked in and we've had signs of being a good defensive team. Today, we kind of put it together and everyone contributed, our length, steals, blocks, we had a little bit of everything, but our guys were locked in and they were connected. It makes a big difference against a team like that, they really can run transition, they got a lot of points from the foul line last time we played them. I thought we did a great job keeping them off the free throw line, I thought a huge key in the basketball game. Michigan State's really good and they'll win a lot of games, so pleased to be playing at home today and pleased the way our guys performed from the opening tip. That was a 40-minute game."
On Myles Johnson: "You guys see what kind of elite defender that he is, but he does a lot of things for us. He's a good screener, he's a good passer, keeps basketballs alive, he can really guard, he's really gotten to the point where he can guard almost any position. His best days are ahead of him and he's a great teammate. Real pleased, I mean 14 rebounds. Big reason we don't get out rebounded is when he puts up numbers like that, but I really thought our guards chipped in, Geo (Baker) got 5 (rebounds), Paul (Mulcahy) got 5, we got 7 from Ron (Harper Jr.). I thought all the guys kind of chipped in because (Michigan State) is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. Myles sets the tone up front and today he was scoring and so active he earned a day off tomorrow, that's for sure."
On Fast Start to the Game: "When you play the Indiana's and the Michigan State's of the world, it says a lot about our guys. Our guys did a really good job, and we were getting off to some tough starts. Last time we played Michigan State, it was 11-2. So important to start these games, it's a league that has obstacles every team you play and if you start spotting teams eight, nine, ten points, it's really hard to catch up. So our guys kept plugging, they believe in each other and again, I loved our bench today. Those guys came off, I thought Montez (Mathis) was fantastic, Jacob Young does the things he does, Cliff (Omoruyi) gave us some good physicality. We didn't have him last time we played them, and the starters really were connected. Great team win and great to get off to a good start. It really helps you as you roll into these tough games."
On Geo Baker: "Just so connected in every way. He got five steals too, a career high for him . When he defends like that, he really helps us and in the last two games, his defense has been outstanding, and we need him. He's a very good defender and he's very knowledgeable about our sets and the different things we want to do defensively and then in turn, it makes him connected on the offensive end in all our sets that we try to run. He played really, really well today in the whole game. He was like a coach on the floor and it really gives us a different dimension when he's locked in that way defensively. He hasn't been in foul trouble, he's been really playing, so really pleased and pleased with all of our guys. Paul Mulcahy gives us great minutes and Caleb McConnell, it's good to have him back. He sticks his nose in there, he guards (Aaron) Henry. Henry, the last time we played, he really had his way with us and (McConnell) had that assignment and he took it himself. These guys did a really good job and Ron Harper is always a factor in the game and I love that fact that he got 3 assists and no turnovers. Some good things out of everybody and that bodes well for us. We're healthy for the first time and hopefully we can keep this going."
On Geo Baker and Myles Johnson bringing Leadership: "Those two guys have been through a lot here. They came in together, they are roommates, they've been a big part of us changing the narrative. We got a long way to go in this league always. You can go on winning and losing streaks, but very difficult. Those two guys they've been through the most and they've seen the growth of the program. When those two are locked in the way that they were today, then it makes us a much harder team to play against."
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening Statement: "I didn't know what we'd do and I thought we started out like I'd hoped not to, but that's the way it was. Give us a lot of credit that we fought back and cut it to four after shooting terrible and turning the ball over so much. If I told you what the keys to the game were, that was one. Offensively, Josh (Langford) had some great looks, he was 1-for-8. Malik (Hall) had some great looks, he was 1-for-6. They did a good job defensively, we did a poor job. There were 33 points off turnovers, that's a big part of the game. We had 21 turnovers. Even coming out of halftime, our first three possessions were turnover, turnover, turnover. We did a very good job and that falls on me."
On being out of action for three weeks: "I thought I thought Aaron (Henry) in a couple huddles said it best. He said, there's no excuse for the turnovers. Our defense wasn't great, but it probably wasn't bad when you think about that they only scored 67 points with 100 turnovers. And then there's no excuse to just dribble in and pass it to a guy. I thought (Rutgers) brought a little more energy. I thought we had one of our best shootarounds today. I thought we had a good practice yesterday. I'm sure we have a little COVID hangover, I understand that, but that will not be an excuse for the way we played. That would be a good excuse for losing the game but not the way we played."
On moving forward: "I haven't looked at the film yet, so I won't do that. I really don't care about the next game to be perfectly honestly with you all. All I want to do is get back to the hotel and take a look at the film and figure out if turnovers were as ridiculous as I thought, but was the defense better than I thought. But we did not have the energy. I thought we have more energy in practice yesterday, which was only our second practice, third practice, up and down and we had tonight. So frustration sets in and then you start making even worse plays. But I'll worry about the next game tomorrow. I'm going to worry about this game and see if I can figure out why. I think Aaron had six (turnovers), Rocket had three, Foster had three. I think my four guards between them had 15 or 16 turnovers. And I can't give all the credit to Rutgers, but I can give more than their share credit because they played awfully well. First time ever went (10-for-12) from the free throw line. They played well, we played poorly."
