PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Scarlet Knights had a tough Sunday at Mackey Arena.
The No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers defeated Rutgers men's basketball 84-72 behind a game-high of 25 points from sophomore point guard Jaden Ivey.
Ivey was (5-11) from the field and (15-18) from the free throw line in the game. Seven-foot-four center Zach Edey had 15 points in 18 minutes and shot (5-6) from the field. Center Trevion Williams provided a spark off the bench for the Boilermakers with 11 points on (5-8) shooting in 21 minutes.
Guard Sasha Stefanovic (11 points) and forward Mason Gillis (10 points) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Boilermakers. Purdue made six three-pointers in the first half and shot 57 percent from the field as a whole to take a nine-point lead into break.
The Boilermakers had 19 points off turnovers and made (24-29) free throws in the game.
The Scarlet Knight again saw a balanced scoring attack with four players in double digits.
After being listed as day-to-day (hand) earlier in the week, senior forward
Ron Harper Jr. suited up and started for RU. Harper Jr. player 33 minutes and scored 12 points on (4-9) shooting.
Sophomore center
Clifford Omoruyi had 14 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes played. Omoruyi stuffed a highlight-reel dunk over Edey in the first half igniting the Scarlet Knights early.
Senior
Geo Baker had 11 points and was (5-13) from the field in 34 minutes.
Junior guard
Paul Mulcahy led the team with 15 points and six assists. Mulcahy was (6-8) on the night. Mulcahy moved up to sixth in assists for a single season at RU in the game.
Senior guard
Caleb McConnell played another all-around game for RU. McConnell had six rebounds, six assists, three steals and two points. Center
Dean Reiber (8 points) and forward
Mawot Mag (six points) gave the Scarlet Knights great minutes off the bench.
McConnell moved up to 10th all-time at RU in steals and fifth for steals in a single season (63).
RU shared the ball well with 16 team assists and 38 points in the paint.
The Scarlet Knights will look to rebound back on the road on Wednesday as they take on Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
