PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers men's basketball suffered its first loss of the season Friday night, falling 67–54 to Central Connecticut State at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights (4–1) struggled offensively throughout and were outplayed on the glass and along the perimeter as CCSU (3–2) controlled the game for more than 31 minutes.

CCSU's veteran trio of Jay Rodgers, Darin Smith Jr., and Max Frazier powered the Blue Devils to the road win. Smith scored a game-high 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting and added four assists, while Frazier delivered a dominant interior performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Rodgers added 15 points and nine assists, orchestrating an offense that hit nine three-pointers and shot 43 percent from beyond the arc.

Rutgers never found its rhythm offensively, shooting just 36.2 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from three. The Knights went 9-for-31 in the second half and never led after the break. They also struggled to contain CCSU's second-chance opportunities, allowing 11 offensive rebounds and seven second-chance points.

Junior guard Tariq Francis led Rutgers with 19 points, continuing his strong early-season play, while junior center Emmanuel Ogbole added ten rebounds and 6 points. Junior forward Denis Badalau chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds, including a pair of timely threes that briefly sparked second-half momentum. However, Rutgers' lack of consistent scoring and difficulty defending the 3-point line proved costly.

CCSU built a 32–28 halftime lead behind Rodgers' early shot-making and Frazier's activity around the rim. The Blue Devils then opened the second half on a 10–4 run and stretched their advantage to as many as 15 late in the game. Rutgers cut the deficit to 45–41 with 13:19 left, but CCSU responded with a Rodgers three-pointer and never let the Knights closer than two possessions again.

The loss ends Rutgers' 4–0 start ahead of a challenging stretch that includes Tennessee on Monday night and the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas.



Postgame Quotes

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell Opening Statement:
"I told our guys, that is what a championship program looks like. They played that way. They beat us in all the margins. I don't know if our minds were on Vegas — I don't know. Central Connecticut did really well. I want to compliment them. Pat [Patrick Sellers] has done a great job there.
"But we obviously have to play with more energy. We have to play harder and rebound better. I appreciated putting the young guys in because they gave us great energy, but I shouldn't have to do that. They [CCSU] deserved to win today, and that's on me. We're 4–1, that's our record right now, and we have no time — we have to put our heads down. We have Tennessee coming up, one of the best teams in the country, so we have to bounce back and do it quickly."

On Three-Point Defense:
"It's really starting to get on my nerves. We have a lot of new guys, and that's part of it. Scouting is a big part of it. We have to grow up and grow in how we approach scouting reports. I have to get some guys out there who understand what that job is against every team.
"Central Connecticut was one of those teams with five guys who can make threes. They got nine up. The last time we played American, they made nine in the first half. Obviously, our defense wasn't good at all, and our offense wasn't good. That's what happens in a game like this. But I have to find some guys who can defend the three-point shot, for sure." On Using a Young Lineup in the Second Half:
"They just came in and played with energy. We have to go after people. We're not one of those programs with the kind of talent where you can just sit back. We did that for those five seconds, and I was happy. Some of those guys hadn't played, but they're making a case too, if they give us that kind of energy and they're ready to go.
"Bryce can always do some things for us. We have to play better and own our record. I told our guys in the locker room, no one feels sorry for us. We're headed to Tennessee and Las Vegas. We have to find a three-point defense, we have to find better ball movement, and we have to address the backboards. It all starts and ends with the backboards. We have to be consistent rebounding the basketball. Some of those were second-shot threes — that always happens when you're scrambling off a missed rebound. We have to do a better job and find some consistent rebounders." On the State of the Team Heading Into Las Vegas:
"Vegas is Vegas, and I don't know if any coach is happy with their team this time of year. I'm certainly not. We're better than this and we have to play better than this. But you're always worried as a coach early in the year when you're still figuring things out. We have a great challenge in front of us, and we have to get off the mat." On the Struggling Offense:
"We've been pretty close to having five guys in double figures. We've been sharing the ball and getting it moving. I thought we missed a lot of makeable shots. On one possession, we had four or five attempted layups between Dylan Grant and Emmanuel Ogbole, and we didn't finish.
"We also have to get to the free-throw line — that's part of it. The margins are so important: free throws, rebounds, all of it. But we didn't stop them, and that's part of it too. You have to be able to get stops. They held the ball, ran clock and scored. Then we came down and rushed some attempts, didn't make the ones we needed, and that's what happens in a game like this. That's why the outcome is the outcome." On Lineup Rotation and Possible Changes:
"I have to look at everything. I went with the rotation in the first half that won us four games. I just felt like those guys were our best chance to play with some energy. I told them to be ready at halftime. I have faith in those guys, even though I haven't played them as much. They came in and gave us a spark.
"We'll try to build on that, and I think a couple others are going to get some opportunities if they keep plugging away. I wanted to try and get more athleticism on the floor. That's what Lino Marks, Chris Nwuly and Kaden Powers bring us." On Forcing Turnovers:
"Huge. I watched them play Boston College. I think Jay Rogers is a really solid player — nine assists, two turnovers, steady. He got in the lane, got where he wanted to get. We have to do a better job, obviously, on the roller who got behind us a bunch of times. That's where he got a bunch of his assists.
"When we're playing the way we need to play, we'll turn some teams over. We didn't do that tonight, and you need extra opportunities when you're not shooting or rebounding it well. We have to add some more trapping and get our rotations down. We just have to play better — point blank — and that's on me. We have to play harder from the opening tip.
"When you give a team confidence like this, in your building, they'll take advantage of it. This has been a tough building to play in, but we gave them confidence right off the bat. I think we gave American confidence too the other night. We have to get off to good starts with our defense, especially with Tennessee coming up." On What Needs to Change With the Difficult Upcoming Schedule:
"We have to get better. It's a long season — you go through ups and downs. It wasn't our night, for sure. Tip of the hat to Central Connecticut; they played a great game.
"I don't know if our guys' minds were on the right thing. Were they already in Las Vegas? I don't know. I have 10 new guys that I'm learning about, but they certainly weren't on the task at hand. I have to make sure they understand what Tennessee looks like, what Notre Dame looks like, what Purdue looks like, what Michigan looks like.
"We're 4–1. That's what we are. We better learn from a night like tonight — that's all you can do in a season like this. A lot of ups and a lot of downs. Obviously, this is a down, but we have to get off the mat. We have to make sure we're ready to go."
CCSU Head Coach Pat Sellers on CCSU's Victory Over Rutgers:
"Just a really great effort by our guys. We had a group tonight — the whole team throughout — that paid attention to our scouting report. I thought Lenny Jefferson, one of our assistants, did a great job scouting the game, and our guys really paid attention to it. We mixed in man and zone most of the night and kept them off balance offensively.
"These two guys [Jay Rodgers and Max Frazier], along with Darren Smith, were really, really good. I've said it all the time: we have grown men with basketball IQ and offense, and they know how to play with each other. A lot of the time when you watch us play, we're not even running a set — we're just playing basketball. We get into it, we get the ball ahead, and then we just start playing.
"We put it in this guy's hands right here, Jay Rodgers, and he kind of picks and chooses what happens on offense. It really helps us. Darren Smith did a really good job out there. Melo Sanchez — he brings a lot of gravity to him and Smitty [Darren Smith Jr.] because they can both shoot, so it opens up the floor, and Max [Frazier] gets a lot of lobs, as you can see. And Jay delivers them. So I was really proud of the guys." Coach Sellers on Rutgers:
"I'll say this about Rutgers: I think they have a really good team. It's like every team across the country — everybody has ten new guys. We have ten new guys too, but luckily we had these guys, Smitty, Max Frazier and Jay Rodgers, who have been here a couple years. That's the difference. They've been around and know how to play with each other.
"When you've got all these new guys, it's hard, and it's going to take a while to get it going. I know Coach Pikiell real well. I know as they go further into the season, this team will be a lot better as they go down the road."