PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 24 Rutgers men's basketball had an offensive outburst on Friday night, outscoring Monmouth, 98-81. Dylan Harper led RU with 20 points, his 3rd straight 20+ point game to start his career. Zach Martini posted 17 points, while Ace Bailey had 16 in his first collegiate game.Rutgers shot 59.6% from the field for the game. 

It was the largest output for the Scarlet Knights since scoring 103 points on Feb. 3, 2016, a triple overtime contest against Illinois. It marked the most points in a regulation game since scoring 116 against Stillman on Nov. 25, 2013.

Rutgers was hot out of the gates in the opening half. Ace Bailey scored 11 points in his first collegiate half, and Zach Martini added 11 of his own on 3-of-3 from long range. RU opened the game making nine of the first 14 shots to establish an early 27-14 lead, and led by as much as 17 points in the opening frame, including an 11-0 run. At halftime, Rutgers led 47-30 and had shot 59.3 percent from the field. That marked the best field goal percentage and most points in a half since posting 56 points on 65 percent from the field in the second half against Minnesota on February 1, 2023 It was the team's most points scored in the first half since 2022. In that second half, Rutgers had a stretch making nine-of-10 shots, expanding the lead to 71-49, and cruised from there.

Rutgers will return home on Wednesday night to host Merrimack. Game time is 8 p.m., with a broadcast on Peacock. 

 
Postgame Notes

• Rutgers' 98 points was its most points scored in the Steve Pikiell era. It was RU's most points in a game since scoring 103 points on Feb. 3, 2016, a triple overtime contest against Illinois.
  • It marked the most points in a regulation game since scoring 116 against Stillman on Nov. 25, 2013.
• Dylan Harper had a RU-high 20 points. He matched Phil Sellers as the lone RU freshmen to begin their career with three 20+ point performances. Sellers did not reach 20 points in his fourth game.
• After missing the first two games due to injury, Ace Bailey made his collegiate debut and first start at Rutgers. He finished with 17 points and six rebounds.
• At halftime, Rutgers led 47-30 and had shot 59.3 percent from the field. That marked the best field goal percentage and most points in a half since posting 56 points on 65 percent from the field in the second half against Minnesota on February 1, 2023 It was the team's most points scored in the first half since 2022.
• Jordan Derkack had nine assists, second most in his career after an 11-assist game last season.
• Zach Martini had 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He was just off his career-highs set previously on March 9, 2024 vs. Penn on points (23, lone 20+ point game) and field goals (eight).
• Rutgers shot 59.6 percent from the field for the game, its best in a game since shoot 59.7% versus Minnesota on Feb. 1, 2023.
• Rutgers has 21 assists, its most since the 2022-23 season (had 30 vs. Minnesota on Feb. 1, 2023).

 
Monmouth's Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 38 points on 10 made three-pointers. That was:

• Just three points shy of the record for a visiting player at Jersey Mike Arena (41 by John Gerdy of Davidson on December 12, 1977).
• The second most three-pointers ever made by any player at Jersey Mike's Arena (11 by Michigan State's Bryn Forbes, March 2, 2016).
  • The most three-pointers by a Rutgers' player at Jersey Mike's Arena is eight, done three times, most recently by Quincy Douby on February 23, 2005.
  • His 17 three-point attempts tied the arena record.
• The most points scored by a Rutgers opponent since Marcus Hatten (St. John's) scored 44 points on March 6, 2003.
• The first time a RU opponent player scored 35+ points since Jeremy Hazell (January 29, 2009).

With the Win:

- Rutgers starts 3-0 for the fifth time in the past six seasons.
- Rutgers improves to 10-1 all-time versus Monmouth with a win for the first time since 2014 and a home win over Monmouth for the first time since 2011.

Up Next

Rutgers remains at Jersey Mike's Arena for one more contest, hosting Merrimack on the 20th. Following that, RU will play the next five games away from home and seven of the next 10 games through the start of the 2025 calendar year away from its home venue.

   

Postgame Quotes

Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell opening statement:

"Ace is in the training room. He's cramping up so he couldn't be up here. Otherwise he would have been here today. I want to thank you guys for coming. I love the student section. They got there early. They did a fantastic job. I love King rice. He's one of my favorite guys in coaching. I think he does a fantastic job. I want to congratulate him. He just got a five year extension. I knew it was a dangerous game. I watched them enough. They shoot a ton of threes. I was really concerned with number one [Abdil Bashir Jr.], and I actually thought we did a decent job on him. And then I looked at the box score. I mean, he made some incredible shots and he scored 25 in their last game. He's an incredible scorer. So I thought we settled in and we shared the ball. Almost had six guys in double figures, assists wise. We still got to work on a lot of things. We didn't have Jeremiah Williams today. So we get Ace Bailey back, but we lose a guy like him. So hopefully we get him healthy and back into the swing of things, but a good team win, and everyone contributed. Zach has a great night, too. These are veteran guys. They made some veteran plays down the stretch, too, which helped us a lot." 

Coach Pikiell on Ace's debut:

"Ace is talented. And he'll pass the ball, too. We have to get him in game shape. Obviously he hasn't practiced for a little bit and I thought he gutted it out for us. Some big rebounds. Just gives us another dimension on the court. And he'll keep getting better, too, like this. I like this team a lot. We got to get better. And obviously he's a big part of that. So we're excited about getting him back into the rotation. He needed to get his feet wet. College basketball is hard. You can't just come off of not practicing and jump on the court. It's a hard thing to do."

Coach Pikiell on Jeremiah Williams:

"He just needed some time off his shoulder. So hopefully soon, it's game by game. But it's basketball and it happens all the time. I know the computers don't say that, but it's a long season and you have to figure out your team through injuries, through obstacles, through that, and those two guys hadn't missed any practice time at all. It's disappointing, but it's part of the long season and luckily other guys stepped up and did some things in their absences."

Coach Pikiell on what he liked from his team offensively:

"We had 21 assists. When you pass the ball like that, we made our free throws, we made threes, this team's capable of doing. [Zach Martini] got us off to a really good start. Jordan does a little bit of everything. Got everybody involved. Dylan chips in with six assists and one turnover. J-Mike does what he does. I love PJ's minutes, too. Came off the bench, made some big plays for us. Acuff gave us some good minutes as he keeps getting healthier. And Lathan, he keeps playing. I think he's our leading rebounder today. Another really good game for him. So I like the team win. Everyone contributed. Team win."

Coach Pikiell on Dylan Harper:

His first three games 20 or more, six assists, one turnover, made all his free throws. Dylan's a good player and these games are good for these guys. They really are. They're good for them. [Madison] Durr is a really good player. Came out of the citadel, went to the free throw line the most. I think he was third in the country in free throw attempts last year. Tough guy to guard at the rim. Dylan has to guard different kinds of players, so I think there's all a learning process too as you encountered, so pleased with his minutes again and better days ahead, too, for him."

Coach Pikiell on scoring 51 in the second half but giving up 51 defensively:

"They'll learn from film. It happens and we got a big lead. We have to play better with the lead, too. I think sometimes you let your guard down a little bit and certainly that happens during the course of the games. We'll watch film. I mean, that's what we've done since the first game. We learned lessons in all these games. They're very important for us. So there's a lot of tape to devour our defense, obviously, has to get better. We're playing at a different pace and Monmouth plays at a different pace. I think every team we play, not going to score as many points. When you play the Wagners of the world, they play at a slower pace. These teams ramp up their pace. We're up and down the floor more, so more defensive possessions, more offensive possession, so your defense can get exploited a little bit more."

Coach Pikiell on Jordan Derkack's passing:

"He does a lot of things for us. He's a fantastic passer, but goes through traffic, grabs rebounds. He can score. He can get it going downhill. He can really defend, too. And like I said, I thought he did a good job on [Abdi Bashir Jr.]. Made him take some tough shots. He had it going. But we still had enough to get the win. But Jordan brings a lot to us. He's a leader. He's got good toughness. He never misses the day of practice. He watches the most film, probably on the team, too, so I'm really glad to have him back in New Jersey for sure."

Coach Pikiell on Abdi Bashir Jr.: 

"I don't remember a player coming in here and scoring 38 points. We had a couple of guys drop numbers, but that's a huge number. And I knew it, too. It's not like we didn't tell these guys, anytime you've taken 20 threes in a game, you're going to have a night where you're going to go 17 for 20 or 15 for 20. He shoots a lot. He's got the ultimate green light. Didn't want that to happen here, but I knew during the course of the year that's going to happen. He's big, he has good size, and he has a little swagger to his game. And we had J-Mike on him. We had Jordan on him. We guarded him sometimes. I know he got free a few times. Got free one time in our zone, and he missed that one. But he's a good player, and King does a great job. They have a couple of their players back today. It's going to be a very good team in the CAA and they won 19 games last year. He's going to do that again this year." 

Coach Pikiell on the team chemistry: 

"It's them. It's always a compliment. To the guys on the team. They're passing up good shots for really good shots and know their teammates and know their teammates strengths, and I think that's really important. We're getting out, we're playing with good space, and then the other thing that helps a lot is when you get to the free throw line, you make your free throws. And that's a really nice bonus this team can do." 

Coach Pikiell on what he'd like to clean up the most:

"I don't think you have enough time here. There's so much. We need [Jeremiah Williams] back. We need to get our rotation down. We need to work on a lot of different things. We're growing as a group, and we have to add some things, too, offensively. And defensively. But we will. These guys are good workers and they're good learners, and they put the time in so we have to improve in every area. And you see some good signs of a lot of good things, but you got to play 40 minutes, too, so that's a huge part of moving forward here. Once we start playing Big Ten games, those are 40 minute games."

Coach Pikiell on Tyson Acuff's process:

"He's really good. It's too bad with the setback with his foot. He can do a lot of things. He really can. He could shoot. He can pass. He can handle it. He's an old school guy. I'm looking forward to him getting healthier and getting quicker and faster, too. We need to keep bringing him along too. Get J-Will back. Keep all these other guys healthy. Bodes well for us. Gives us another weapon." 

Zach Martini on his early success  to start the season:

"We have a really good team,and we have a team that is really capable of sharing the ball like we did tonight. So they were able to find me when I'm open and comfortable knocking them down. Like you said, fourth year playing, just feel pretty at peace with our passing." 

Jordan Derkack on finding Ace Bailey to start the game with an open three:

"Obviously, we wanted to get him going early. We didn't mean for it to happen like that, but I was just playing out there. Whoever set a flare screen for him, a great play, and then I winded up finding him, and it was a good shot." 

Monmouth head coach King Rice opening statement:

"First off. I'm so glad I got to talk to him, Coach Pikiell, and thanking him for playing this game. This is really really cool for our program. We all know there's the big schools in the state and Rutgers is probably the biggest one. And we're a small guy and that he would bring us up here and give us this opportunity just says the type of man that he is. So I'm thankful that we got to do this."

"This kid is one of the best to do it in college from what everybody's telling me. I only saw him play a little bit, and it's amazing that he's that talented as a young kid." [Ace Bailey]

"And it's cool that he's at Rutgers. I watched him last year when he played against Camden and scored 50 and was like, wow, how is this kid that good? at that age, so I was glad that he played in the game. It definitely changed it. And then for a young man to not be playing. And then they run the first play for him and he hits a corner. Three to start the game. Of course that was going to happen. Against us today, but I'm proud of my kids."

"We battled. They got away from us a little bit. The bodies are just so big in the Big Ten. So that's why we're 0-2 against the Big Ten this year. But my young fellow over here showed that we got guys that can play, too. I know, coach. Pico said some nice things to me. So, 0-3, 0-4, but we got a nice club and we're going to be fine when this is all said and done"

Coach Rice's statement on Abdi's carry through the second half: 

"Here's what you got to understand about Abdi. I've seen him do this, all the time. Okay, this wasn't something like, oh, my goodness, Abdi's hitting shots. When Abdi misses, that's when we're surprised. Okay? People don't know he's had the injury too. He has a growing injury, right now. Most people want to be playing, but he's a basketball junkie. I already told him he's not practicing tomorrow. He's not practicing Sunday because he really has an injury, but he's a basketball kid from a really good family. That all he wants to do is make his family proud. And just hoop. And we're lucky to have him. He showed you tonight. He can really, really get it. Going, but he showed me that every single day,"

Coach Rice's statement on Zach Martini, Jared Valencia, and Jordan Derkack:

Well, first, I have a young man, Jared Valencia. Okay, he's 6'9, 6'10, seven-three wingspan. But when you walked in, Ace is obviously bigger, okay? That he looks like a kid that's going to play in the pros. Jared's very slim. Okay, so that was the first thing that caught my eye. It's. Like, whoa. Like, man, he's obviously gotten bigger since he's been here, and guys. They don't got one. They got two. I got back and forth with Rick Callahan. Who was his scout. And I don't call kids pros. I don't do that type of stuff. But I know Ron Harper. His other son made it. And this young man is. Wow. It's just amazing. He's a true point guard at 6'5 and the way he can handle it and change directions, you can't stay in front of him. That's why I think he's going to do a lot of good things in this game, both of those young men."

"But then when you bring Zach Martini. Okay. We try to recruit Zach out of high school. He went to Princeton. All of us will probably be working for him someday, okay? And then Jordan. All right. Jordan worked out with our guys in the summertime when my son played for us. Loved that kid. Okay. Love him. He's so tough and he's skilled. He doesn't care. And he's a guard. "Point guard" That isn't, going to shoot a lot of shots but he's such a winner. He wins games all right. He led his team to a final four. Okay, so if you're a point guard and you're a winner, like Jordan is, he can lead this team to a lot of places. Okay. And how good he is on defense. I knew he was good on defense, but I didn't know he was that good. He's like Jack Collins out there just reading anything we are doing, getting in the way when his man's all the way out of the way. We kept getting him out of the way, he ends up right where the ball is anyways. Getting his hands sailing ball, so hats off to them. I'm a fan of Coach Pico's, and I'm a fan of their team now."

Abdi Bashir Jr's statement on past losses:

"Wish it would have came with a win, but it was pretty cool. I didn't know that, I didn't know what the record was. I didn't know that I set the record. I was just hooping out there, just playing the game that I grew up loving. Yeah, I put a lot of work into my game, my skill. As you can see, I'm not, like, freaky, athletic 250 pounds running through everybody. I got to manipulate the defense. Attack different angles, so I'm like, I'm more of a smarter basketball player than the physical basketball player, so that way I can get my shot off and I'm at the top of the scouting reports now."
"I'm not just like a freshman like last year where I could just come in and nobody knew who I was. I'm putting a lot of work in my game of confidence. It's up and down. But, yeah, my coaches still confidence in me every day. Coach sometimes he tells me to shoot the crazy and stuff. That just goes to show how much he believes in me, how much you trust me, believes in me more than I believe myself, and, yeah, I believe in my teammates. They give me open shots, and I'm just trying. To represent my family, trying to represent my country. Yeah, I feel like I did all right tonight, but we're going to bounce back."