PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Scarlet Knights beat Penn State 80-76 in their Big Ten home opener Tuesday evening, their first game at Jersey Mike's Arena in three weeks.
 
Five-star Dylan Harper was feeling it early for Rutgers - he scored 11 points in eight minutes including 3-for-3 from deep. Harper finished the half with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
 
Tyson Acuff, PJ Hayes, and Jeremiah Williams shot a combined 5-for-8 from beyond the arc through the first 20 minutes including a buzzer beater from Williams that put Rutgers up 48-33 at the break.
 
Rutgers led by as many as 17 in the second half but persistent Penn State defense and a quick 8-0 run brought them back in it.
 
PSU made it a two-point game with under two minutes remaining but clutch rebounding and second-chance opportunities made the deficit too big to overcome.
 
Rutgers won the rebounding battle 46-32 including 12 offensive that led to 22 second-chance points.
 
Harper recorded his first career double-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists while fellow five-star Ace Bailey notched his third. He finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Both freshmen had two blocks and Emmanuel Ogbole added three himself.
 
It was a team effort for the Scarlet Knights - seven players scored six or more points including 27 from off the bench.
 
Foul trouble for the Nittany Lions (22 personals) allowed the Scarlet Knights 25 free throw attempts, though they only capitalized with 14 makes.
 
The Scarlet Knights improve to 6-4 while Penn State falls to 8-2.
 
Rutgers will look to continue its momentum hosting Seton Hall in the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic on Saturday at 3 pm. Last year, Scarlet Knights won 70-63.
 
Postgame Notes
Dylan Harper

• Had his first career double-double (24 points, 11 rebounds)
• Had a career-high in rebounds (first game of double-digit rebounds).
• Had 20+ points for the eighth time this season.

Ace Bailey

• Had his third double-double of the season (15 points, 15 rebounds)
• Had a career-high 15 rebounds
• His 15 rebounds was the 4th most ever by a RU player in a Big Ten game and tied for the most by a RU freshman in a Big Ten game (Jonathan Laurent, 15 vs. Penn State on Feb. 20, 2016).
  • Only one RU freshman since 2004 has had more than 15 rebounds in a game (Gregory Echenique, 16 vs. Providence, March 1, 2009)

The last time prior to today RU had two players with a double-double in the same game was Nov. 13, 2021 vs. Merrimack, with Ron Harper Jr. (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Clifford Omoruyi (11 points, 13 rebounds).
The last time RU had two players with a double-double in the same game against a Big Ten team was Feb. 24, 2021 vs. Indiana, with Ron Harper Jr. (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Myles Johnson (10 points, 13 rebounds)
 
With The Win, Rutgers Has:
- Four wins in the past five games against PSU
- 38th all-time win against Penn State
- Wins the Big Ten home opener for the fifth time in the past six years.

Up Next

Rutgers remains home for the Garden State Hardwood Classic on Saturday. Game time against Seton Hall is 3 pm.



Postgame Quotes
 
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell: 
 
Opening Statement: "First, I am happy to be home at Jersey Mike's Arena. The fans were here early, it was awesome. Penn State is awesome. They just beat Purdue and have one of the best guards in the country. They played fantastic. They rebounded, and did a lot."
 
Coach Pikiell on team rebounds: "I'm proud of them. We did a good job on the backboards. It has not been a strength of ours, but these guys do it. Jordan (Derkack) is a rebounder too. I love the way we played in attack rebounds.
 
Coach Pikiell on physicality during the game: "We really passed the ball which is important too. We shared the game. We got back Sunday morning, and we got to work. These guys had a rough practice on Sunday and they did a great job. They are learning. We have a newly assembled roster. Penn State is very strong and athletic, and they have a fifth-year point guard. Can you imagine Dylan (Harper) as a fifth-year point guard? 
 
Coach Pikiell on defense: "Down the stretch, it was good. Not only did we finish plays, we rebounded the ball. Our defense still has a long way to go, and I think our offense does too. But, we did what we had to do. During the first half, that is the kind of defense we need all year round. I took these guys on the road, and the hardest thing to do in college basketball is be on the road. It is never easy, especially learning how to win on the road."
 
Coach Pikiell on how we opened the game: "We picked up full tonight. Jamichael (Davis) gave us some really good minutes tonight. We have spent a lot of time on film, and we talked about it and they have been learning. The fact that we have been rebounding has been great. It is huge part of our growth based on the past, we would let them rebound and have to start defense all over again. So we did a good job at starting and finishing our plays. 
 
Coach Pikiell on the bench: "They really came out and helped us. Pj (Hayes), Tyson (Acuff), and Jordan (Dercack) gave us some good minutes down the stretch. It was a good team win, and that bench is really important. So, if we can continue to get some consistency off of it, it really helps.
 
Coach Pikiell on his defensive message in the huddle: "I told them we have to finish this game. We really just wanted to make it difficult for them. That is indeed what we did, and we finished it off with a rebound too. But, we are learning how to lock in and get those big stops when we need them. That is a good sign for them moving forward. It is important to play and be connected, and our guys know that is a big part of it."
 
Dylan Harper on the crowd at JMA: "They're like a sixth defender for us. We've been on the road for 20 days so seeing all of our fans, and seeing how loud they were, it meant the world to us." 
 
Coach Pikiell final statement: "We have been tested, and we have played a lot of different styles. Hopefully, we can rise to the occasion (Seton Hall game) if our fans come out. They have to be as great as they were tonight. All right all, thank you very much for coming. We appreciate it. "
Penn State Head Coach Mike Rhoades:
 
Opening Statement: "We weren't ready to play. I love the fight my guys had during the end, but it was not enough to win on the road. Those guys (Rutgers Team)  are talented players; and not just the two freshmen (Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper). Once you get their team going, they build their confidence."
 
On seeing Dylan Harper play: "I have watched him play a ton. I do not think people realize how big and strong he is until you watch him play live. He is a super talented kid. Our ball screen coverage was not good enough today against a really good player like Dylan, and he took advantage of that."
 
Overall thoughts: "We were not tough enough. We were not disciplined enough. We did not respond to the adversity of this game, especially during the first half. I think today, they (Rutgers) had four tip-ins. We could not defend those. We definitely had some guys that did not battle on the glass today. It was not good enough for Penn State. It is not good enough for what we are trying to do. We are going to get better, that will be the challenge for our guys (Penn State) when we get back to campus, thank you."