Rutgers men’s basketball experienced its first defeat of the season on Friday, losing 67–54 to Central Connecticut State at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The Scarlet Knights, now with a 4–1 record, struggled offensively and had difficulties defending against CCSU’s perimeter shooting and rebounding.
Central Connecticut State’s lineup was led by Jay Rodgers, Darin Smith Jr., and Max Frazier. Smith contributed 21 points and four assists. Frazier posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Rodgers added 15 points and nine assists. The Blue Devils made nine three-pointers and shot 43 percent from beyond the arc.
Rutgers shot just over 36 percent from the field and went 26 percent from three-point range. In the second half, they converted only nine out of 31 shots. Rutgers also allowed CCSU to collect 11 offensive rebounds, resulting in seven second-chance points.
Tariq Francis led Rutgers with 19 points. Emmanuel Ogbole collected ten rebounds along with six points, while Denis Badalau added eleven points and seven rebounds.
CCSU held a halftime lead of 32–28 after early contributions from Rodgers and Frazier. The Blue Devils started the second half strongly with a run that widened their lead to as many as fifteen points later in the game. Although Rutgers reduced the deficit to four early in the second half, CCSU maintained control for the remainder of the contest.
Following this loss, Rutgers faces Tennessee on Monday before traveling to Las Vegas for the Players Era Tournament.
After the game, Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell said: “I told our guys, that is what a championship program looks like. They played that way. They beat us in all the margins. I don’t know if our minds were on Vegas — I don’t know. Central Connecticut did really well. I want to compliment them. Pat [Patrick Sellers] has done a great job there.
“But we obviously have to play with more energy. We have to play harder and rebound better. I appreciated putting the young guys in because they gave us great energy, but I shouldn’t have to do that. They [CCSU] deserved to win today, and that’s on me. We’re 4–1, that’s our record right now, and we have no time — we have to put our heads down. We have Tennessee coming up, one of the best teams in the country, so we have to bounce back and do it quickly.”
On defensive struggles against three-point shooting he noted: “It’s really starting to get on my nerves…We have a lot of new guys…Scouting is a big part of it…Central Connecticut was one of those teams with five guys who can make threes…Obviously our defense wasn’t good at all…”
Pikiell commented further about using younger players: “They just came in and played with energy…Some of those guys hadn’t played but they’re making a case too…”
Addressing offense issues he said: “We’ve been pretty close to having five guys in double figures…We also have to get to the free-throw line — that’s part of it…”
He concluded by saying: “We have to get better…It’s a long season — you go through ups and downs…That’s what we are…[we] better learn from a night like tonight…”
CCSU Head Coach Pat Sellers credited his team’s execution: “Just a really great effort by our guys…We mixed in man and zone most of the night…These two guys [Jay Rodgers & Max Frazier], along with Darren Smith were really good…I was really proud of the guys.”
Sellers also remarked on Rutgers’ roster development: “I’ll say this about Rutgers: I think they have a really good team…It’s going to take awhile…but luckily we had these guys…That’s the difference…”
