PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Another home game, another win for Rutgers. That has suddenly become the theme of this season as opponents have not fared well inside The RAC. Tonight was no exception as Rutgers downed Indiana, 59-50, in a game that was never truly in question.
The win also pushed Rutgers (13-4) to a perfect 12-0 inside The RAC this season.
"It's loud, I love The RAC," head coach Steve Pikiell said post-game. "I think the environment is great. I love that our students, even though they are not back in school yet, came out."
The win was a true definition of what fans have seen through the majority of Rutgers’ 12 home wins this season. It took place in front of a raucous home crowd. It included tough defensive play and contributions from up and down the lineup. That has been the norm at home for Rutgers this season.
Rutgers jumped out to a 12-0 lead, igniting the capacity crowd and setting a tone for the entire night.
“We were all locked in,” said Akwasi Yeboah, who scored six of his 14 points during that initial run. “It was a team effort. We came prepared, mentally and physically. We had a good practice leading into this game.”
If the early lead and packed house were not exciting enough, junior guard Geo Baker took the floor with 14:31 left in the first half and that raised the excitement level even higher.
Baker did not play in the past three games because of a fractured thumb. Tonight, things were different.
“He went to the doctor and the doctor said he was good,” Pikiell said. “Then I asked him if he was good at the shootaround. He said he was good. When the doctor says it and he says it, that’s when I find out. I wasn’t planning on having him. But it was a really nice bonus.”
Indiana made a few comeback attempts, but each one was thwarted. Whether it was a Paul Mulcahy three-pointer, a Jacob Young layup, or a Ron Harper three-pointer, Rutgers always had an answer.
And it was always a different answer as Rutgers spread the wealth. Only two players scored in double figures as Yeboah led the way with 14 points and Caleb McConnell followed with 10 points.
The Rutgers defense was also its usual stalwart self as Indiana struggled to reach the 50-point mark. Indiana shot just 32.2% from the field and 11.1% from three-point range.
“They do a great job on the ball, they really work. They pressure, they’re quick and they have long length,” Indiana head coach Archie Miller said of Rutgers. “I thought their big guys did a really good job of impacting ball screens. They put our guards in situations to get knocked back off. We didn’t handle that very well. And then when we did drive at times, they did a really good job of crowding the floor.”
The exclamation point game late in the game when Baker drove to the basket and let loose a thunderous dunk that drew the loudest reaction of the night from the home crowd.
“I just saw a little gap on the screen,” Baker said. “I tried to hesitate a little and then go. My legs felt really good. I haven’t played in three games. So I just wanted to rise up and make a play.”
The win was one more building block on the way to a post-season berth as Rutgers is making its presence felt throughout the Big Ten.
“They play extremely hard and that's why they’re one of the best teams in the league,” Miller said of Rutgers. “They really are. They’re impressive with their effort level and especially in here. They get this place charged up.”
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Another typical Rutgers home win over Indiana - 247Sports
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