PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Returning home to Jersey Mike's Arena, the Rutgers' men's basketball team was unable to overcome a slow start on offense, falling to Big Ten foe Maryland, 63-46. The Scarlet Knights fall to 14-13 overall and 6-10 in Big Ten play. Rutgers was led by Aundre Hyatt in the contest with 13 points.  

Halfway through the first frame, Rutgers held a 14-13 lead after the Scarlet Knights forced the Terps into a five-minute scoring drought. RU's 8-1 run was countered by the Terps however.

The visitors used a 17-4 run over the final 10:32 of the first stanza to take a 30-18 lead into half. Maryland finished the half on a 10-0 run over the final 6:09 of the frame, with RU making just one field goal over the final 10 minutes of first half action.  

In the second half, Maryland extended their lead to 40-20 before Cliff Omoruyi broke the field goal drought at the 15:43 mark.

Oskar Palmquist spurred a 7-2 RU run with five points of his own. An 8-0 run by RU resulted in a Kevin Willard timeout, as RU cut the lead to 47-37 with 10 minutes to play.

After opening the game 7-of-26 from the floor, the home team sparked to life with a 7-of-8 shooting stretch. The run gave life to the home team, but the Terps responded with an 8-0 run to push their lead back to 54-37, and were able to hold off the Scarlet Knights to ensure the victory.

Postgame Notes

• Cliff Omoruyi had three blocks, moving into seventh most in a single season in RU history with 85
• Omoruyi has 213 career blocks, the ninth Big Ten player since 2000 to reach 210 career blocks, and 17th on the all-time Big Ten blocks list.
• Gavin Griffiths had his first career multi-block game.

Up Next

Rutgers remains home during the midweek, continuing its Thursday-Sunday pattern of games. The Scarlet Knights will host Michigan on Thursday for an 8:30 pm tipoff on FS1. Rutgers defeated Michigan at the Crisler Center on Feb. 3.
 

Postgame Quotes

Rutgers Maryland Press Conference
 
Head Coach Steve Pikiell

Opening Statement:

"There was a great crowd today. Maryland was better than us in every area and we didn't have the energy in the first half. I thank the second group that came in and gave us energy in the second half. It's a forty-minute league and Maryland came into our place and beat us. I give credit to Kevin Williard, they got in the lane and we didn't do what we needed to do. I thought our inability to make a free throw in the first half would've let us hang around and stay closer but I got to get us to play better and it's obviously on me. We have a lot of basketball left and I need us to get consistent down the stretch."
 
On Maryland's physicality:

"We have a physical identity too but they were better than us. We weren't making our shots and not capitalizing at the free-throw line. We had a group in the end that played with great energy and got us to claw back, but we needed everything to go our way, especially after spotting them. There was one breakaway layup that we didn't convert while down ten. They are one of the best teams defensively, we just never got into a rhythm."
 
On scoring droughts:

"They are good defensively, and we didn't allow them to score for twelve minutes as well. This is how they win games, so tip of the hat to them. The shots that we do get have a chance to go in, but when we're at the free-throw line we need to come away with a point. This league is tough and every game is different. I thought we clawed back but we couldn't put up only 46 points."
 
On other teams adjusting to Jeremiah William's play:

"That happens. It tapes out on everybody and when you're playing good, they're going to key on you. They're going to take advantage of whatever they want to take advantage of and when teams have extra time, they can take more of an advantage of that. When Cliff has a good game, the next time you play, there's a different kind of defensive scheme that he will see. These coaches and teams are good. I think Reece did a good job in the post. And I think Cliff did a good job last time we played them."
 
On technical fouls in Big 10:

"It's starting to become a thing around the country. There's been some memos out. There are a lot of obstacles in this league, it's the other team, the other coach, playing on the road, and now the whistle is being blown. So, we have to do a better job of making sure we are not in the cross hairs there. There is more of an emphasis and they're sensitive to those things."
 
On Mawot Mag:
 
"Mawot has been really battling. I am really proud of him because it's not easy having that injury and it's a toll that it takes. Some days he can practice, some days he can't. Some days he can play, some days he can't. These guys have to fight through it but I hope he's okay. We take it game by game with him, unfortunately."
 
Message to the fans:

"They've been awesome. The reason we have won 85% of home games over the last five years is because of the fan base. They come. They've seen a lot of W's. They've seen some L's too, but they have been fantastic. The students were there today. It was an early game too and you just never know and they were loud. They really tried to get us going in the second half. I know you guys know this. I appreciate it. I try to thank them every time I see them. They make a huge difference, and we are really thankful for them coming out all the time and being supportive. These guys (team) are working. They really are. I want them to know that they represent the program the right way and they are working. Stay the course and I appreciate their support."
 
On offensive struggle: 

"They (Maryland) are a really good defensive team first and foremost. That's how they've built their identity too. We knew it wasn't easy the first game. We knew it wasn't going to be easy the second game. They did a really great job being active and doing some different things. They throw a lot of different stuff at you. They have some full-court stuff. They're really a lot like us. We throw a lot of different things at you so it keeps you off rhythm. When you're searching for answers and you're subbing guys in it's a little bit different. I really believe in the first half the free throw line is your best asset in tough scoring times. You need to go there especially when you are struggling to make shots. That's a big part of it. I haven't been able to get us to shoot free throws the way that we need to. On the road we are very good from the free throw line I don't know why here at home we are too successful. That needs to change especially in a game like this. When we are making threes like we did against Wisconsin it's not as glaring. When you struggle to score you want to get to the free throw line. We need to do a better job. 
 
On how fouls affected the game:

"How the whistles are being blown always affects the game. That's not anything new. We talked a lot about making sure he (Jeremiah Williams) doesn't pick up the bad ones. I would say the same thing to Aundre and Cliff. When you get the real ones, the bad ones really double down and hurt you. Referees have tough jobs. We need to do a better job of defending without fouling, especially those guys that are important guys for us."