Rutgers Returns With Dominant Effort vs. Maine

RUTGERS 80 - MAINE 64

In the first game in over two weeks, the Scarlet Knights put forth a dominant effort against non-conference opponent Maine, thumping the Black Bears 80-64 for Rutgers' best offensive output of the entire season.

"I was nervous," Head Coach Steve Pikiell said after the game. "We haven't run plays, we haven't been together at all. I wanted them to play together and I thought we really passed the ball. That's what I was most pleased about, how we shared the game.

"Then when we had to make defensive stops, we did. I was very concerned with that end of the floor, that was very important today because Maine has a lot of different scoring options and guys that have gotten hot at different times. But I liked the way we shared the game. I depended on my veteran guys and they were they were ready for the task."

Rutgers was on target with most of its shots Thursday afternoon, connecting on 53% percent from the floor, and a season-high 50 % from beyond the arc.

Four of RU's five starters were in double figures, with Ron Harper Jr. leading the way with 19 points.  Paul Mulcahy and Clifford Omoruyi each contributed 14 points in the victory. Caleb McConnell had 13 points; Geo Baker finished with nine points on the night.

Rutgers started dropping the three's right out of gate when Mulcahy connected on a three-ball to give RU a 5-3 advantage at the 18:12 mark of the first half. Three minutes later the three's came down like a tropical rainstorm. Harper sank his first triple to give Rutgers a 12-8 lead with 15:54 to go in the first half. Geo Baker later connected on back-to-back three's in a matter of 40 seconds to extend Rutgers lead to seven at 18-11.

From that point Rutgers started to press the Black Bears inside the paint. Maine couldn't hit their shots consistently as they struggled with Rutgers size and reach. The Scarlet Knights, on the flip side, connected on their shots around the perimeter. Before too long Rutgers had built a 16-point lead with 2:08 to go in the first half after Omoruyi bounced his way through the paint, dropping the ball  off the glass and into the hoop to make it 38-22.

After a miss by Maine on their ensuing possession, Omoruyi slammed it home on a alley-oop pass by Geo Baker to make it 40-22.

The offensive barrage continued in the second half. Three of Rutgers first five buckets to open the second half were of the three-point variety, including a pair by Mulcahy to keep the blowout going at 55-37.

Rutgers improved to 5-0 all-time against Maine, in a series that dates back to 1924. Head Coach Steve Pikiell improved to 19-7 all time against the Black Bears in his career, 2-0 with Rutgers.

Rutgers will face Central Connecticut at Jersey Mike's Arena on New Year's Day at 5 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for December 23, before it was postponed due to COVID concerns.