By Shane Petagna (@shanepetagna)
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers wrapped up a three-game homestand to open their season with a 72-51 victory over Bryant at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Friday.
Although it was another wide margin when the final horn sounded, the Bulldogs easily gave the Scarlet Knights their toughest test yet, landing a punch in the form of a 7-0 run to begin the second half that provided the visitors a 38-35 lead just under three minutes into the period.
Rutgers acting head coach Brandin Knight called a timeout, told his team to take a deep breath, and subbed in captain Jamichael Davis. In the 100th game of the experienced guard’s career, he righted the ship and spearheaded an extended 24-6 run that Bryant never recovered from.
“I think everybody kind of understands just how tenacious he is, both as a leader and a teammate, but also what carries over on the floor is that he’s been in this situation before,” said Knight. “This is not his first time, and he was very poised in that moment. He made good decisions for us, and then he made big shots.”
Davis and company never looked back, as the majority of the captain’s 11 points in the second half came on a trio of made three-pointers. The crowd was all-in, especially when the captain single-handedly forced a ten-second violation right after a Bryant breather while Rutgers was up by four points. His contributions on both sides of the ball culminated in a 33 plus-minus in his 24 minutes on the floor.
“It was not good that we were down, but obviously that adversity is kind of what we needed,” said Davis. “I think we did a great job of just staying connected, staying together, and keeping the main thing the main thing.”
A main point of emphasis the whole night was the play from the Scarlet Knights’ big men, none more than Christian Gurdak. Bryant had no answer for the sophomore starting center, who complemented a 10-point and eight-rebound first half with another five field goals and six more boards in the second half to finish with a career-high 20 points and 14 total rebounds.
Knight wanted to repeatedly get the ball inside against a Bryant squad that saw all of its starters make at least one shot from the perimeter. Dorin Buca and Mervedi Miteo saw similar success from the floor, as Rutgers enjoyed three of its biggest players combine for 28 points on 75% shooting.
“I said, ‘Let’s wear them down on the defensive end by making them have to guard us in the post,’” said Knight. “And we continue to just repeat those efforts, just going back inside over and over and over and over again.”
For Bryant, the Bulldogs started the game missing their first 10 three-point attempts while also getting into foul trouble as a team, which helped contribute to a 23-13 Rutgers advantage. However, Bryant heated up from downtown, using four made threes to cut its deficit to three points. The Bulldogs trailed 28-25 with 3:26 before halftime.
No player was hotter in the first half than Roi Behar. The freshman’s fifth made three of the night, which he sank from well beyond the NBA line, brought his Bulldogs within one. Behar finished with a season-high 19 points to lead his team in scoring.
The Scarlet Knights were able to slow down the three-point barrage from Bryant in the second half, and thus the Bulldogs’ offense. Bryant only amassed 20 points in the final 20 minutes and shot 2-for-15 from three in the period.
Rutgers will shift its focus to the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, where they will be part of an eight-team tournament and play three games in as many days. The depth of the team, one that has shown that a different cast of characters can take over on any night, will be a benefit.
The Scarlet Knights will open against No. 8 Houston on Tuesday afternoon.
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