Rutgers University
3-0,0-0Big Ten
New Jersey Institute of Technology
1-2,0-0America East
5 Takeaways from Rutgers 75-61 Victory Over NJIT on Tuesday
Nov 16 | Men's Basketball
In every game so far, the Scarlet Knights have been trailing at halftime and in every game the team has dominated their opponent in the second half.
RU has outscored their opponents by a combined 43 points in the first three victories to start the season
After training 33-32 at halftime, the Scarlet Knights outscored the Highlanders by 15 points behind star performances from point guard Geo Baker and forward Ron Harper Jr.
"We know now if we're down at half that we can win any game that we play, so we certainly have figured that out," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "I thought the other day we got good looks in that game. I thought our defense was outstanding against Merrimack, 35 points they had. In the second half today we really started defending basketball the way we're supposed to and rebounded well and then the ball started going in."
Below are four more takeaways from the victory over the Highlanders on Tuesday night at Jersey Mike's Arena:
Geo's got game. 💯@Geo_Baker_1 // @RutgersMBB
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) November 17, 2021
Watch on B1G+ https://t.co/Bd8XUVct5X pic.twitter.com/PSKes6HotQ
Geo Baker, Big Shot Maker
Geo Baker had his best game of the season and keep the Scarlet Knights in Tuesday's game in the first half.
Baker made seven of his first eight shots and scored 11 points in the first half.
Baker had the step back jumper falling and was 3-4 from three-point land in the game. The point guard finished the night 8-10 from the field with a season-high 19 points and added three rebounds and four assists.
Tuesday night marked Baker's most points in a non-conference game since posting 22 on Nov. 10, 2019 vs. Niagara.
Baker said that he was especially feeling his step-back jumper in his postgame interview, a shot that he had made in many key moments throughout the first three games of the season including a game-tying shot against Lehigh in the opener.
Baker also became the fifth player in Rutgers history with over 400 assists on Tuesday night.
Ron Harper Jr., Mr. Double-Double
Harper Jr. kept his double-double streak to start the 2021-22 season alive on Tuesday night.
The senior forward had his third consecutive double-double for the first time in his career against the Highlanders.
Harper Jr. scored 20 points and had a career-high 13 rebounds.
"Those two guys really had it going, Geo had a great stretch there," Pikiell said. "When those two guys are scoring, we're tough. Ron was going downhill in the second half to get to the rim and posting up and doing the things he can do around the basket. I really think our best days are ahead as a basketball team."
.@__RHJR hit 'em with the step back‼️#GardenStatement🛡️⚔️ pic.twitter.com/MaVYcCZ7Y3
— Rutgers Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) November 17, 2021
Dominating in the paint
One of Pikiell's biggest mantras with his squad this season has been taking good shots and finding success around the basket.
The Scarlet Knights certainly dominated in that area as they out-rebounded the Highlanders by 18 and Rutgers had 38 points in the paint.
"We had a great segment where we just kept getting offensive rebounds and offensive rebounds and offensive rebounds," Pikiell said. "We willed ourselves to a couple baskets there. Good days ahead when they when they play like that."
Center Clifford Omoruyi came along with all six of his points coming from dunks in the second half.
Paul Mulcahy came along late as well with a clutch putback and-one to give Rutgers a 57-45 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. Mulcahy had a solid game with seven points, six rebounds three assists and three steals.
Big Cliff puts the icing on it‼️
— Rutgers Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) November 17, 2021
(B1G+)#GardenStatement🛡️🛡️ pic.twitter.com/vtvYF6CIon
The Knights shoot 13-27 on two-point baskets in the second half.
Rutgers also had 21 second chance points in the game which were key to extending the lead in the second half.
O'Hearn can shoot
Guard Dylan O'Hearn was a force to be reckoned with on Tuesday night.
The senior led the way for NJIT with 20 points and five three pointers. O'Hearn played a game-high 37 minutes and was all over the court for the Highlanders.
While guard Caleb McConnell struggled on the offensive side of the ball on Tuesday night, the senior picked up on the defensive end and had several key stops on O'Hearn later in the game.
McConnell said postgame that he takes pride in guarding the best player on the opposing team.
McConnell had six points, seven rebounds, three steals and a block. The senior continues to be one of the most-balanced all-around players on the floor for Pikiell.
"He is a good player and boy, can he shoot it from deep," Pikiell said. "I've seen him have games like that where he really got it going. I thought that hurt us. Caleb did a really good job, it was a hard matchup and he was quick and fast. We got guys to sit down and play better defense and use our length. We got up on ball screens. We made a couple adjustments that way."
