Rutgers men's basketball handles Michigan State for 2nd ranked win
The Rutgers men’s basketball team cruised to an 84-63 win over Michigan State on Saturday afternoon. The win marks the second victory over a team ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 this season for the Scarlet Knights (13-9, 7-5).
The scoring got off to a thunderous start as sophomore center Clifford Omouryi threw down an uncontested dunk on Rutgers’ first possession. From that point forward and for most of the first half, the Knights would hold a multiple-basket lead over the No. 13 Spartans (17-5, 8-3).
After Rutgers took its largest lead of the first half of 8 points with 11:28 remaining in the half, Michigan State would respond with a 15-7 run to tie the game up at 28 at the 4:26 mark. For the remainder of the half, the Knights would lead by as much as 5 points and take a 40-38 lead into the break.
Out of the half, Rutgers would immediately embark on a 7-0 run that expanded a 2-point halftime lead into a 9-point lead. The run was punctuated by two free throws from senior guard Ron Harper Jr.
The Spartans would get the lead back down to 3 points with approximately 14 minutes to go, but the Knights responded with a 15-3 run over the next 5 minutes of action to build a lead that would ultimately seal the win. The most Rutgers led by in the win was 23 points.
“We needed to match their physicality," said head coach Steve Pikiell after the win. “I was pleased that our guys got out, and we ran. We shared the game, 22 assists in a game like this is hard to do. They were really good defensively. We outrebounded them, which was a huge key for us. They are one of the best rebounding teams in the country.”
While only six players scored for the Knights in the win, all six players scored in double-figures. Harper and Omouryi led in the scoring department as each put up 17 points and four rebounds. Senior guard Geo Baker shook off a scoreless outing against Northwestern to score 12 points.
Junior guard Paul Mulcahy also continued to make his case for Big Ten Player of the Week in the win. After scoring a career-high 31 points earlier in the week, Mulcahy scored 15 points and dished out a career-high 12 assists on only two turnovers. The Bayonne, New Jersey, native has scored in double-digits in three consecutive games.
“I mean (Mulcahy’s) been great…” Pikiell said. “He’s a good player. He’s always done a lot of things for us that don’t show up in the box score, and he’s sharing the ball, that’s what he does … He’s a winner.”
Adding to the performances was the play of senior guard Caleb McConnell and sophomore forward Dean Reiber. McConnell grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while Reiber set a new career-high with 12 points in 10 minutes of action.
Rutgers set a new season-high in shooting with a 61.5 percent field goal percentage. The team also shot 45 percent from three-point range, grabbed 31 rebounds and dished out 20 or more assists for the sixth time this season.
For Michigan State, Gabe Brown led in scoring with a game-high 20 points and also led with five rebounds. Marcus Bingham Jr. was the only other player to hit double-figures in a game in which the Spartans never led.
The Knights will remain at home to take on No. 16 Ohio State on Wednesday. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
“Great environment today. (Jersey Mike's Arena on Livingston Campus) was jumping,” Pikiell said. “I loved the environment. I think I'm going to go get some subs today from Jersey Mike's after this. It was a great game.”
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