PISCATAWAY, N.J. – When teams come to Jersey Mike's Arena, they have their season low in points scored.

Bucknell was the ninth opponent to take a trip to Piscataway and was shut down defensively by the Scarlet Knights in an 85-50 victory for Rutgers. All nine opponents so far have scored their season lows against RU in Piscataway.

Rutgers opened the game on a 16-4 run, making eight of its first 10 shots. They used a 9-0 run to stretch the lead to 26-9 at the midpoint of the opening half. Another big offensive run (12-2) pushed the advantage to 42-19.  

At halftime, RU led 44-26. Cliff Omoruyi had a game-high 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the opening stanza. Omoruyi, who entered the game with 2.45 dunks per game (seventh in the NCAA entering the contest), had six dunks in the opening half.  

In the second half, RU's defense forced Bucknell into an early five-minute scoring drought, using a 12-2 run and expanding the lead to 58-30.  The defense severely limited the visitors, who made just two field goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half, allowing RU to push the lead past 25 points and secure the victory.  

Rutgers had a season low three turnovers in the game, a focal point for head coach Steve Pikiell heading into the matchup. The Scarlet Knights got 33 points from their bench in the game and outscored the Bisons 48-22 in points in the paint.

"I was very concerned for this game," Pikiell said. "I think Bucknell has a chance to win the Patriot League. They shoot over 50% as a team from the floor.  Anytime you play a team that can shoot the ball and is one of the best third point shooting teams in the country and right before Christmas you get concerned.  Cliff with six blocked shots, which was a career high and our bench (played well).  Aundre (Hyatt) came off the bench and Antwone Woolfolk and Derek Simpson were high energy and gave us a lift.  We really shared the ball with 20 team assists and 3 turnovers. We held Bucknell to their season low in shooting percentages and it is just a good sign moving forward."

Omouryi finished with a career high six blocks and tied a career-high in rebounds (14). He was the games leading-scorer with 17 points. Grad winger Caleb McConnell shot 7-11 from the field and finished with 14 points paired with seven assists. McConnell had three steals and three rebounds.RU's third captain senior Paul Mulcahy had a complete game with six points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Forward Aundre Hyatt had 11 points and shot 4-9 from the field off the bench. Freshmen Derek Simpson collected 10 points and had a highlight reel dunk on the baseline to send the crowd into a cheer in the second half. Junior guard Cam Spencer finished with nine points and is just three points away from his 1,000th career point. 

The Scarlet Knights will enjoy some off time for the holiday break before hosting Coppin State at Jersey Mike's Arena next Friday night at 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

Postgame Notes

The victory represented for RU: 

• An 8-1 home record this season  
• A 22-4 home record over the past two seasons  
• A 50-9 record at home over the past four seasons  
  • (Prior to the previous four seasons, RU had been 46-44 in the previous five seasons dating back to the beginning of the Big Ten era with the 2014-15 season.  
• A 23-8 record in the all-time series against Bucknell, and the 15th straight win over the Bison 
• Rutgers won its fifth game this season by at least 30 points. 

Defensive Notes 

• Bucknell entered the game averaging 73.7 PPG. RU held them under that average to a season-low 50 points.  
  • RU has now held all its opponents below their season average and all nine home opponents to a new season-low in points. 
• The Bison entered the game seventh in the nation in three-point percentage at 41.0% with a season-low of 21.1. RU held them to 23.1 percent.
• The Bison entered the game 17th in the nation in field-goal percentage at 50.1% with a season-low of 33.9. RU held them to 31.0 percent.

Team Notes

• Rutgers tied its season-high with 20 assists

Individual Notes 

Clifforrd Omoruyi  

• Collected 17 points and 14 rebounds to post his fourth double-double of the season and 11^th of his career 
• Entering the game seventh in the nation with 27 dunks, he posted six dunks, all in the first half.  
• Omoruyi had a career-high six blocks, giving him 79 for his career. He moved past Mike Jones and Ron Harper Jr. for 19^th place all-time at RU.