Rutgers University
USF
Rutgers Suffers 73-64 Loss at USF
Jan 16 | Men's Basketball
Tampa, Fla. – Team co-captains Hamady Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) and Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) each had double-doubles, but it was not enough as Rutgers (9-8, 0-5) dropped a 73-64 decision to USF (11-6, 1-4) Saturday evening at the Sun Dome. Ndiaye had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, while Mitchell had 13 points and 11 rebounds, to lead four Scarlet Knights that scored in double figures.
Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) and Mike Rosario (Jersey City, N.J.) both scored 13 points as well. Coburn also dished-out a career-high tying seven assists in 27 minutes off the bench.
The teams combined for 37 turnovers in the contest, which the Bulls led from start to finish, with the exception of an early 2-2 tie.
“Every game on the road is very difficult,” said Rutgers head coach Fred Hill. “We have to go out and play to get better…You can’t turn over the ball 19 times and expect to win a game, especially on the road.”
Rutgers committed five turnovers and struggled from the field (2-7) in the first five minutes, allowing USF to jump-out to a 10-5 advantage. Rutgers connected on its next four shots and cut its deficit to one point (17-16), but its chance to pull ahead continued to be handicapped by miscues. Rutgers committed 12 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
Leading 25-23, the Bulls went on an 8-2 run to close the half with a 33-25 advantage.
The two BIG EAST squads went basket for basket in the first 10 minutes of the second half, with USF unable to pull away before the home crowd. The Bulls took their first double-digit lead of the night on a free throw with 11:39 remaining that resulted in a 44-34 score.
The Scarlet Knights could get no closer than eight points the rest of the way. USF shot 56.5 percent (13-23) in the second half to ensure their first league victory of the season. Five Bulls scored in double digits highlighted by guard Dominique Jones, who tallied 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Rutgers returns to the Garden State o host No. 4-ranked Villanova in an 8:00 p.m. tip-off at the RAC Wednesday (Jan. 20) evening. The game will be televised live on MSG.
- At least three Scarlet Knights scored in double digits for the second straight game and the 12th time this season with Mike Coburn, Jonathan Mitchell, Hamady Ndiaye and Mike Rosario scoring 13 points apiece. It marked the second time this season four RU players scored 10 or more points as five Scarlet Knights scored double digits against UMass on Nov. 27.
- Ndiaye pulled down 10 rebounds to give him his fourth double-double of the season and fifth of his career. Ndiaye has scored in double digits eight times this season and 12 times during his career. The senior co-captain has pulled down 10 or more boards five times this season and 10 times during his four years “On the Banks.”
- Mitchell’s 11 boards gave him his first double-double of his career. Mitchell has scored in double digits nine times this season and 12 times during his career. The junior co-captain has tallied 10-plus points in four of the five conference games this season.
- Rosario’s 13 points marks the 15th time, and 43rd time of his career, that he has scored in double digits. All of Rosario’s points were scored in the second half.
- Coburn’s 13 points marks the fifth time this season, and 17th game of his career, that he has scored in double digits.
- Ndiaye’s four blocks marks the 16th contest this season, and 50th time in his career, that he has swatted three or more blocks. Ndiaye’s 81 blocks this season is the eighth best single-season mark in school history.
- Coburn’s seven assists ties a career high and marks the seventh time this season and 10th time in his career he has dished out five or more helpers.
“I don’t think any game is a must win game. You always want to win the next game you go out and play and that’s what we talked about. Every game on the road is very difficult. People are going to look at South Florida’s record and say ‘wow you have to win the next one’, looking at our record you have to win this one or that one. We approach every game as the next game. We have to go out and play to get better. Early on, we weren’t turning the ball over, the last three or four games we have been struggling turning over the ball. You can’t turn over the ball 19 times and expect to win a game, especially on the road. Mike [Rosario]’s been really struggling right now. He’s been our go to guy. He’s got to be consistent and efficient...I’m very impressed with Dominique Jones. I think we did a heck of a job on him and he didn’t force things. He let the game come to him and he winds up having 20 points, but very efficiently.”
