Rutgers Shows Fight, But Nebraska’s Early Surge Too Much to Overcome
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men’s basketball came out swinging in the second half, but the damage had already been done. A slow start and a red-hot Nebraska offense proved too much for the Scarlet Knights to overcome in an 80-68 loss Saturday afternoon at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Rutgers trailed by 14 at halftime and saw that deficit balloon to 20 early in the second half. From there, it was a game of catch-up - and while the Knights brought more energy, better execution, and sharper shooting after the break, the hole was simply too deep. They outscored Nebraska 41-39 in the final 20 minutes, but the Cornhuskers had already built their cushion and never let it slip.
Bright Spots in a Tough Loss
Tariq Francis was a spark plug for the Scarlet Knights, leading the way with 16 points and five assists. He looked more comfortable as the game went on, especially in transition and when attacking closeouts.
Kaden Powers added 14 points on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting night, showcasing his ability to find soft spots in the defense. Off the bench, Darren Buchanan Jr. brought some much-needed toughness and versatility, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds.
Dylan Grant chipped in seven points and four steals, showing flashes of his defensive instincts.
Rutgers found its rhythm offensively in the second half, shooting 48.2% from the field - a noticeable improvement after managing just 41.4% in the opening 20 minutes. But turnovers loomed large. The Scarlet Knights coughed it up 15 times, and Nebraska made them pay nearly every time.
Nebraska’s Efficiency Shines
The Cornhuskers were led by Rienk Mast, who was a force all afternoon. The big man poured in 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting and added eight rebounds, controlling the paint and stretching the floor when needed. Pryce Sandfort (15 points) and Sam Hoiberg (13 points) rounded out a balanced scoring effort for Nebraska, which also knocked down 11 of its 12 free throws.
Nebraska’s offensive efficiency - the best in the Big Ten - was on full display. They moved the ball well, capitalized on Rutgers’ defensive lapses, and punished mistakes with surgical precision.
Coach Pikiell: “Turnovers Killed Us”
After the game, head coach Steve Pikiell didn’t sugarcoat things.
“Turnovers killed us,” he said. “We haven’t been turning the ball over, and that was a huge part of the game plan.
We score 68 - if we’re closer to our normal turnover ratio, maybe we get to 75. That was the goal.”
Pikiell credited Nebraska for their discipline and execution, singling out Sam Hoiberg for his impact as a glue guy who does all the little things right.
“Every time I think we’re close and making progress, we show some good signs,” he added. “But this is the wrong league to be close in.”
Mixing Up the Lineup
With Lino out due to injury, Pikiell shook up the starting lineup. He gave Harun a starting nod - a reward for his strong practice habits - and brought Emmanuel Ogbole and Jamichael Davis off the bench in hopes of injecting energy into the rotation.
Matchups also played a role in the changes. Darren Buchanan Jr. got the start on Rienk Mast, a unique challenge given Mast’s point-forward skill set.
“We tried to break some things up and adjust,” Pikiell said. “I liked the matchups in this game.”
Defensive Consistency Still a Work in Progress
Rutgers has hung its hat on gritty, physical defense in recent years, but Pikiell admitted that this group hasn’t found that identity consistently.
“I’m extremely disappointed in our defense,” he said. “It hasn’t been consistent. In this league, you have to be elite defensively, and we’re not there.”
Communication breakdowns, missed assignments, and rebounding lapses all added up. While Rutgers did win the rebounding battle 34-33 and forced 15 turnovers, early defensive miscues gave Nebraska too much momentum.
“We’ve spent a lot of time on it in film and practice,” Pikiell added. “But this league makes you pay for every mistake.”
Shot Selection and Offensive Identity
Rutgers came into the game knowing Nebraska’s defensive scheme would limit driving lanes and baseline opportunities. That led to a game plan focused on taking more threes - but with an emphasis on quality looks.
“They’re a trap team on drives,” Pikiell explained. “We started our four best shooters. It always comes down to decision-making - good threes, bad threes, good twos, bad twos.”
Rutgers had stretches where the offense clicked, especially in the second half, but the inconsistency remains an issue. When the Knights are flowing offensively, their defense tends to follow suit - but when the shots aren’t falling, the energy dips.
Looking Ahead: Growth Over Results
With a week off before their next game against Maryland, Pikiell is focused on development - both individual and collective.
“They’re being evaluated every day,” he said. “Even with this losing stretch, we were at USC with a chance to tie the game. We have to keep getting better.”
He pointed to continued growth from Kaden Powers on the defensive end, the importance of getting Lino back healthy, and the emergence of Darren Buchanan Jr. as a versatile contributor.
“Dylan has to get more consistent. Harun is coming along.
Most importantly, I want us to keep fighting,” Pikiell said. “We’re banged up.
The travel’s been heavy. But we’ve got to rebound better, defend better, and make strides.”
Injury Update
Lino’s absence was felt, and Pikiell confirmed the issue is a back injury that’s kept him out of practice. “Not good at this time of year,” he noted.
On NIL and the Bigger Picture
When asked whether Rutgers’ struggles are tied to NIL challenges, Pikiell acknowledged the reality of the modern college basketball landscape.
“We probably needed [NIL infrastructure] three years ago,” he said. “But we have an unbelievable athletic director.
She’s hired six people in the NIL space. We weren’t as innovative as we needed to be.”
Still, he made it clear that excuses don’t win games.
“We have to win. Nobody cares about excuses.
But I’m thankful there’s a real plan in place now. This is a league of haves, and we need to be one of them.”
What’s Next
Rutgers will regroup and get some much-needed rest before returning to Jersey Mike’s Arena next Sunday to take on Maryland. With Big Ten play in full swing, the margin for error is slim - but the Scarlet Knights are still fighting, still learning, and still trying to find their groove in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.