MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – The Scarlet Knights took a tough 81-70 loss at Willliams Arena on Sunday night.
Both teams started the game 5-of-9 from the field, with RU retaking the lead at 19-18. Rutgers used a 13-3 run, making six-of-eight shots, to take a 27-21 lead at the under-eight media timeout. Minnesota countered, and at halftime the score was time at 37-37. Rutgers was led by 13 first half points from Cliff Omoruyi, and 53 percent shooting as a team.
To start the second half, Minnesota opened on a 11-2 run, opening up to a 50-42 lead. The Gophers pushed their lead to its largest of the day at 12, forcing a timeout at 56-44, with RU opening the second frame shooting just 3-of-14.
Minnesota's lead grew to 69-54 as RU shot just 18 percent from the field (4-of-22) in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Down 72-55 at the 3:21 mark, Rutgers vaulted back into the game with a quick 11-0 run in just over a minute span.
The Scarlet Knights battled back late but were unable to overcome the deficit and saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. Rutgers will remain on the road for its next game, Thursday night at No. 2 Purdue.
Postgame Notes
- Derek Simpson and Cliff Omoruyi shared the team-high with 19 points.
- Cliff Omoruyi moved past Doug Patton to move into 25th all-time in scoring in RU history.
- He now has 485 career field goals, moving into 18th all-time at RU.
- Omoruyi had his 20th game of the season with multiple blocks, recording three rejections.
- Omoruyi tied his career-high with three steals, his second consecutive game with three steals.
- Aundre Hyatt had a career-high four assists.
- Rutgers' 10 steals as a team matched its most against a Big Ten team this season.
Gallery: (2-18-2024) MBB at Minnesota
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Steve Pikiell
On the loss:
"They are a very good team, first and foremost. Our defense has been spectacular the last five games and it wasn't today. We gave up too many open looks and we gave up too much in the paint. I give Ben Johnson credit. I think he's done a fantastic job. We can't give up 81 points on the road. We scored plenty of points to be really competitive, but it is the first time in a while that our defense wasn't where it needed to be. It's always on the coach. I thought (Dawson) Garcia made some big plays for them and their big man(Pharell Payne) was spectacular. Tip of the hat to them, giving up 52 percent shooting from the floor is not Rutgers basketball and especially when you go on the road you have to play Rutgers basketball."
On Minnesota's second half adjustments:
"At the beginning of the game and the beginning of the second half we couldn't string together stops. In the second half we got some layup opportunities that could have kept us around, but we didn't finish those off. You have to do that on the road and you can't send a team to the foul line 34 times because that makes your life really difficult."
On Minnesota's second chances on offense:
"They're a good offensive team and they don't need second shots. We have been rebounding well and (Pharell) Payne is a big strong buffalo. He's a kid who has power and strength. I thought we got a little fatigued and didn't execute our game the way it needed to be in order to keep them off the glass."
On Clifford Omoruyi's performance:
"They came and got help to guard Cliff late in the second half. When you get behind you change your offensive game plan to try to get to the rim and once we got in one-and-ones, I tried to stop the clock and get guys downhill. Again, we scored plenty of points (to win) and didn't play Rutgers defense. When you're on the road in this league that's what you will get."
