NEW YORK, NY -- The Scarlet Knights hosted No. 8 Michigan State at the World's Most Famous Arena Saturday afternoon, but was bested 81-74 in front of 17,480 fans. The Scarlet Knights defense faltered with over 80 points allowed for the third straight game despite a season-high output from Jordan Derkack (26 points).

Rutgers entered the matchup shorthanded - junior Emmanuel Ogbole was ruled out for the season with a knee injury and freshman Dylan Harper came off the bench in limited minutes due to ankle injury. 11 scholarship Scarlet Knights saw action in the game. Michigan State capitalized with a 44-34 advantage on the boards and shot 48 percent overall compared to 34 percent for the hosts. 

In the first frame, after trailing by three, RU responded with a 10-0 run, but quickly went cold following its surge - nine minutes without a made field goal. Michigan State took advantage with a 16-1 run. Derkack and Harper brought RU right back in it, combining for its final 17 points of the half. MSU entered the break with a 35-32 lead.

Michigan State took control in the second half shooting 60 percent compared to Rutgers' 36 percent. After trailing by 13 with under two minutes remaining, Rutgers never gave up and closed out the game sinking six of its last eight. Derkack and freshman Ace Bailey credited the support of Rutgers nation for its energy to keep the game within reach down the stretch.

Derkack finished as RU's leading-scorer with a career-high 26 points off the bench including four makes from deep. Bailey struggled shooting but was excellent from the free-throw line - he finished a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe for a total of 18 points and nine rebounds.  RU shot 19-for-25 from the line as a whole and 9-for-30 from three.

Rutgers' defense forced 15 turnovers including 10 steals but only capitalized with 14 points off those cough-ups.

Freshman Dylan Grant added nine points and five rebounds as he continues to be a bright spot in the starting lineup. Freshman Bryce Dortch made his season-debut. 

Rutgers falls to 10-10 (3-6 in conference play) while Michigan State improves to 17-2 and a perfect 8-0 in the Big Ten. Rutgers will play its fourth straight away game from Jersey Mike's Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 29, tipping off against Northwestern (12-7, 3-5) at 9 pm.

Postgame Notes

- Rutgers had a season-high 19 assists and 9 blocks and the six turnovers was second lowest on the year
- RU shot its second worst field goal percentage of the season
- Conference foes average 77.1 points against RU
- Ace Bailey averages 20.4 points per game against league foes. No other play averages more than 12.8 ppg (Harper) with Derkack third at 8.1. 
- Bailey has had at least 17 points in five straight games and at least 15 points in 10 of the past 11 contests. 
- Rutgers was undone by shooting 33.8% from the field (23-of-68). 
- Outside of Derkcack's 7-of-11 shooting, RU was 16-of-57 from the field (28 percent)
- Derkack's four three-pointers was tied for the most this season by a RU player.

Postgame Quotes

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell

Opening Statements:
 
"Awesome crowd today, Rutgers nation. Seventeen thousand people. Proud of our guys and their efforts. We are banged up right now. I didn't even think Jordan (Derkack) was going to play today. Yesterday, he had a tough hip injury. Dylan Harper did everything possible to get back and to play in this game. Every PT appointment, rehab; he wanted to go. I was proud of him for giving it a try. He's been gritty and tough for us but he sprained his ankle against Penn State and it's just going to take a little bit more time. We lost Emmanuel Ogbole for the season so it's been a tough few days but I'm proud of our guys. Michigan State is excellent. Tom Izzo is a hall of fame coach. They're in first place. I keep telling our guys we're not that far off. I give them credit. We had to make some more shots. We had some good looks too. I thought we fought through a lot of obstacles. I thought we were close but we didn't get it done today. I thank everyone for coming and I thank Rutgers nation for coming out and supporting us". 
 
On Dylan Harper:
"When I watched practice yesterday, he didn't look great. After practice he was not great. It's just an ankle sprain that just needs a little bit more time. He tried to go in warmups. Sometimes, it's the next day or a couple days later but it's an ankle sprain and he's tough as nails. I'm proud of him. He was in that training room. He lived there practically for a few days. I honestly didn't think he was going to play but he said 'let me give it a whirl' and he gave us thirteen minutes which says a lot about him. Also, Bryce Dortch was redshirted and he said 'coach, if I can help, I want to help' and he came in and played today too. We are going to need him (Dortch) going forwards.
 
On Season not going as predicted:
"It's the journey of the season. It's the best league in the country. You have to beat the Michigan States. You have to beat these teams. It's a journey. We are starting four Freshman. Everyone wants to predict everything before it starts. You have to earn wins. Playing in the best league in the country and adding four new really good teams to the league. There's still a season left. We can go on a little run here. I think we are close and I'm proud of these guys. They fight everyday. Our schedule has been the toughest I've played since I've been here. Seasons never go the way everyone thinks."
 
Jordan Derkack on playing at MSG:
"I'm a Jersey kid so I've been around. Playing at MSG today was very cool for me. Playing against a coach with the magnitude of Tom Izzo, who is a legendary coach, it was a great experience. Our fans traveled today. They got out here and it was loud. They gave us some life especially at the end of the game so I applaud them for that. We are working everyday. We're getting better every single day. It's a tough league and tough games but we're right there."
 
Ace Bailey on playing at MSG:
"Playing in front of all the fans is a blessing. A lot of people don't get to play in The Garden. It was my first time playing in The Garden. Playing in front of seventeen thousand Rutgers fans, it was dope. It was fun. They gave us life towards the end when we started trapping and everything. We were feeding off the energy that they were giving us. It was a blessing."
 
Steve Pikiell on goals:
"Our goal is to win every game. Our goal is to win the next game. We have the same goals as everybody else. I'll never change my goals. We're trying to go to the NCAA tournament."
 
Coach Pikiell on the team's toughness fighting through injuries:
"It says a lot about these guys and its a hard thing to do too. In a game like this, too, Michigan State is one of the most physical teams rebounding-wise and Emmanuel Ogbole is one of our most physical guys, 11 rebounds he had at Nebraska, so to lose him, and obviously Dylan who's a pretty good player, you kind of work through those obstacles, and other guys have a chance to step up, they did an unbelievable job. I did not think [Derkack] was going to play today thats how bad it was yesterday."

Ace Bailey on how he can improve in the Big Ten:
"I feel like I have developed physically, mentally and emotionally. Playing down the stretch, game after game and taking care of my body has been important. I have been taking film a bit more serious, we did not do much of that in High School. I see how important it has been to us. The small things that you think are not important during the game is what I improved on."

Coach Pikiell on playing at MSG again:
"Scheduling in this conference is as hard as anything. Getting this venue is hard since it is such a busy place. But, I would love to play here again. It has been great for us. Comparing the crowd from last time to now, it has been great. I love it. My guys love it. We would love to make it happen again."
 
Jordan Derckack on the uncertainty of playing this game:
"As Coach Pikiell said, I did not know if I would even play today. I worked with our trainers today and yesterday to get as healthy as I can for this game. I think our shared goal is to win each game. My teammates have put me in a lot of positions to shoot and score and I have capitalized in these opportunities."
 
Coach Pikiell Closing Statement: 
"Like I said, we are trying to come up there and win every game. The most important game is our next one. We are not trying to win a certain amount of games. We are just trying to win the next one. We appreciate it, thank you so much guys."

Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo

Opening Statements:
 
"Steve Pikiell is one of the best coaches in the league and it has not changed. Jordan Dercack came into the game and got 26. He isn't as good as Dylan Harper; but he did a hell of a job. I was happy we won because you have to win games like this. As far a the Rutgers fans, that was a hell of a crowd that came out to support. When I looked out there, I thought we would see more green. I saw red everywhere. I give Rutgers fans their credit."
 
Coach Izzo on why it has been a struggle for Rutgers to win with 2 of the best players in the country:
 
"It is not as easy as everyone thinks. Great players do not always win games, great teams do. What I think has been the most impressive is how Steve Pikiell started those Four freshmen today. That is hard to do. But, Dylan Harper is a hell of a player. Not having him in this game was a big advantage. He just runs that team. So, I think we did a decent job. Ace Bailey is really good too. We always watch him on film, and I did not think he monopolized the ball at all."

Coach Izzo on the Rutgers roster this year:
"I thought they missed a few open shots. But, it is not as easy as you think. Hopefully Coach Pikiell can keep his base here. He has some really good players on this team. They all just need some experience and they are going to be just as good as Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Steve Pikiell is a hell of a coach."
 
Coach Izzo on Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey:
"I think the best of their season is yet to come if they can get Dylan healthy. He is a healthy player. Ace Bailey is skinny, but does not play skinny. He takes a great first step. He can get a shot from anywhere off the court. Dylan Harper has an extremely high basketball IQ, which is not something we see everyday. They are going to be okay. It is not easy to do it with freshman and he has been doing it."

Coach Izzo Closing Statement: 
"They should have beat us. We are pretty good. We are not great. But, I want to make sure the media understands what we have been preaching for the last three weeks; They deserved to beat us. Give Coach Pikiell credit or give me blame, but do not NOT give him credit, because Coach Pikiell really did a great job. Thank you guys."