PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (9-11, 1-6) utilized a Scarlet-hot offense in the first half and a stifling defense in the second half to defeat No. 18 Villanova (13-4, 3-3) 80-68 at the RAC Wednesday evening. Guards Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.) and Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) each posted career-highs of 23 points to lead RU to its first victory over a ranked opponent since a 65-56 home defeat of No. 22 Louisville on January 28, 2006.
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Freshman Corey Chandler scored 14 points and blocked a career-high three shots. (Jim O'Connor/NJ Sport Pics) |
The Scarlet Knights led for the game's entirety, making an impressive 64 percent of their first half field goals to finish the night shooting at a 50 percent (24-48) clip. The Wildcats, conversely, made just eight of 23 (34.4 percent) field goal attempts after the break, while shooting 36.7 percent (22-60) overall. The Rutgers defense, which helped to force 19 VU turnovers, held the visitors without a field for an astonishing stretch of 12 minutes and 26 seconds in the second half en route to the win.
The Scarlet Knights missed their first shot of the game before tweaking the twine on seven consecutive field goals while establishing a 16-2 lead. The Wildcats battled back to within five, before RU's advantage once again reached double figures after a Coburn trey registered a 29-19 score with 5:09 remaining before the midpoint. VU answered with a 9-1 run to close the gap to two points, 30-28. Faced with the gut check, RU finished strong, outscoring the Wildcats 10-4 down the stretch to take a 40-32 advantage at the half. A Farmer three-pointer in the final seconds ensured that the Scarlet Knights brought the momentum into the locker room.
After the break, Rutgers extended its advantage. After a Dante Cunningham jumper at 18:53 brought the Wildcats within four (40-36), the visitors would not register another field goal until Corey Fisher hit a jumper with the 6:27 remaining. Meanwhile, the home squad established a 17 point lead on multiple occasions, before taking its largest advantage, 64-45, with 4:30 to go after another Coburn trifecta. Villanova made things interesting down the stretch, reducing its deficit to single digits, but Rutgers made its free throws when it counted to secure the victory.
Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J.) added 14 points for the home squad. The Scarlet Knights' backcourt trio of Farmer, Coburn and Chandler combined for 60 points, while shooting 18 of 33 collectively.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood Saturday evening to meet another ranked BIG EAST foe, when it travels to Pittsburgh to meet the No. 13 Panthers in a 6:00 p.m. tip-off. The contest will be televised live on ESPN Classic.
POSTGAME NOTES
The Scarlet Knights victory over No. 18 Villanova marked their first win over a nationally ranked opponent since a 65-56 victory over No. 22 Louisville on Jan. 28, 2006. Then freshman JR Inman had 13 points, five rebounds and set a career-high with five blocks in the win. The No. 18 ranking for Villanova marks the highest ranked team RU has defeated since a 95-82 win over No. 9 Notre Dame on March 1, 2003.
RU defeated Villanova for the first time since March 24, 2004, when the Scarlet Knights held on for a 72-60 win at the RAC.
Rutgers scored 80 points, marking its highest point total since it poured in 90 against Lafayette on Dec. 5. The Scarlet Knights outscored Villanova 40-32 in the first half and 40-36 in the second half, marking the first time they outscored their opponent in both periods since they outscored Manhattan 36-32 in the first half and 37-35 in the second half on Dec. 29.
Rutgers shot 64.0 percent (16-of-25) in the first half, marking the third consecutive half it shot higher than 60.0 percent, including both halfs at DePaul.
The eight point halftime lead for the Scarlet Knights marked their highest halftime lead since they held an 11 point lead at the half against North Carolina Central on Nov. 12.
The Scarlet Knights held Villanova without a field goal for a stretch of 12:26 in the second half. After Dante Cunningham made a layup at 18:53, the Wildcats did not connect on a field goal until Corey Fisher made a jumper at 6:27.
Rutgers held Villanova to 36.7 percent from the floor (22-of-60), marking the second lowest field-goal percentage for the Wildcats all season and the lowest since they shot 33.9 percent against Pittsburgh on Jan. 6.
RU improves to 7-1 when outshooting its opponent and 2-0 when scoring 80 or more points. The Scarlet Knights are 8-3 when shooting better than 40.0 percent.
Junior Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.) scored 23 points and freshman Mike Coburn (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) tallied 23, marking career-highs for both players, and marking the fist time two RU players scored more than 20 points in the same game since Dec. 28, 2004, when Ricky Shields (25) and Quincy Douby (21) accomplished the feat in a 77-67 win over Kansas State.
Farmer dished out four assists, giving him 255 for his career and moving him into 18th place on Rutgers all-time assist list.
Farmer scored in double-figures for the 13th time this season, a career-high. His previous high was 12 double digit scoring games in a season, set during his rookie campaign.
Farmer tied his career-high with seven field goals and three three-point field goals. He also tied his season-high with four three-point attempts.
Farmer finished with three steals, tying his season-high, previously set twice, most recently at NJIT on Dec. 13.
Coburn connected on a career-high eight field goals while attempting a career-high 13 shots. In the last four games Coburn has 15 assists and eight turnovers.
Freshman Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J.) scored 14 points, marking the first time three players scored in double figures in the same game since RU accomplished the feat against Manhattan on Dec. 29.
Chandler blocked a career-high three shots. His previous high was one, set four times, most recently at Syracuse on Jan. 16.
Sophomore Hamady Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) blocked three shots, giving him 62 on the season, the 13th best single-season blocked shot total in RU history.
Senior Byron Joynes (Baltimore, Md.) grabbed six rebounds, giving him 493 for his career, tying him with Ricky Shields for 34th on Rutgers all-time career rebound list.
Joynes finished with three steals, tying his career-high, previously set twice, most recently against Providence on Jan. 25, 2006.
In attendance among the VIP's was former Rutgers star running back and current St. Louis Ram Brian Leonard.
FRED HILL POSTGAME QUOTES
On The Win:
"You want to get rewarded for the hard work you put in, but it is just a win. But we needed a win to feel good about everything we've been doing. We've been making progress and getting better."
On the Guard Play:
"Our guards were outstanding. They did a phenomenal job of executing the game plan. Certainly everyone talks about the highly touted guards that Villanova has and deservedly so because they're outstanding players, but we have a few pretty good guards too. I think Mike Coburn was absolutely outstanding tonight. Anthony Farmer was outstanding and Corey Chandler did a terrific job, so we have a couple young guys that are pretty good."
On What He Told The Team When Villanova Cut Into The Late Lead:
"Make free-throws and just stay with it. You have to be strong and aggressive with the ball. They made some unbelievably big time three-pointers. It wasn't anything we did wrong, they just made shots. You have to keep your composure, we had freshman on the floor, but this is what big time BIG EAST basketball is about. Our guys just did an outstanding job."
On What Was The Key To The Win:
"Tonight the key to winning was that we did those little things that we haven't been able to do. When you're building the program, there is a process and you have to learn how to win. I think tonight's game gave the young guys the confidence they need, and it showed the older guys that they have done a good job teaching the younger guys how to win basketball games."
On Anthony Farmer and His Defense:
"Anthony is bringing that toughness and that attitude. He wants to step up and get it done. He wants the ball in big situations. I put the ball in his hands at the end of the half to let him make a decision and make a shot. He's been working hard and is making better shots. He did an outstanding job tonight, as I thought all of our guys did."
VILLANOVA HEAD COACH JAY WRIGHT QUOTES
Opening statement: "Obviously that was not one of our better games but I give more credit to Rutgers and its guards. Their guards were outstanding. You hate to lose but I am happy for Freddie, he is working hard here and they stuck together. They played great against DePaul and that's what we expected when we came in. I thought Farmer and Coburn, especially (were outstanding). They just dominated the game and we had no answer for them.
They (Rutgers) did a great job defensively but in the first half they shot 64 percent and 50 percent from three. That is one of the things we need to learn as a team is when (another) team gets on a run you cant lose your composure."
Scoring Drought: "I am sure somewhere. I have lost plenty of games. I think you have to give their defense credit. They were tough. We got some good looks but when you play good defense and you take a team out of their rhythm it affects your shooting too.
Playing From Behind: "I think they battled to the end. No one likes playing from behind but I don't think they will ever quit. I thought in the first half we battled back and we got it to two, I am thinking, 30-28 and then we just had a lapse defensively. It is part of what this team has to learn. Each team is on its own journey and this team is learning to play consistently every game and it's a born thing. But we are not that there yet. I thought that was what Rutgers did a great job of tonight. They played just every possession, on the offense and defense end.
I think its experience. I wish you didn't have to go through this. I tell them that all the time and understand that this can happen if you don't play every possession, you are going to be down 18 and you are not going to come back. Same thing happened against DePaul in the first half, they hit three's, hit three's and our defense just wasn't there but we were able to come back. This time we were not."
"I think getting a consistent rotation would help us. But we have to get guy playing consistently to do that. There is a fine line there. We are a team that is finding its way. I am not happy about it but we will have to go back tomorrow, win or lose, you have to do that. I said that after the Syracuse game and it better. And we have to get better tomorrow."
