Rutgers kept control from the moment the ball went up Wednesday night, and the Scarlet Knights walked out of Jersey Mike’s Arena with a 75-62 win over La Salle to move to 2-0 on the season.
The margin never really felt in doubt. Rutgers led for 94 percent of the game, got out to as much as a 20-point cushion, and spent most of the night dictating where the action took place. La Salle briefly nudged in front by two early, but that was about as much breathing room as the Explorers ever found.
Sophomore guard Mia Pauldo was at the center of everything. She scored a game-high 22 points and handed out six assists, steering Rutgers’ offense in half-court sets and in transition. Pauldo finished 10-of-22 from the floor in 36 minutes, adding three rebounds and two steals while posting a 6-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Rutgers set the tone defensively in the first quarter, holding La Salle to six points and building a 12-6 lead by crowding the perimeter and forcing tough looks. The second quarter tightened up, with both teams trading quick transition baskets in a 17-16 frame that sent the Scarlet Knights into halftime up 29-22.
The game opened up after the break, and Rutgers answered every push La Salle tried to make. The Scarlet Knights got a lift from the bench, with Zennia Thomas and Chikae Desdunes helping keep the lead comfortably in double digits through the finish.
Jaylah Lampley also gave Rutgers a strong start in the lineup, scoring 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting and grabbing three rebounds in 24 minutes. Thomas was efficient off the bench with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting and a perfect 2-of-2 at the line in 12 minutes, while Desdunes added eight points, including two 3-pointers, in 27 minutes.
Inside, Imani Lester supplied valuable minutes with five points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in 19 minutes, giving Rutgers another layer of protection around the rim. The Scarlet Knights also leaned on their size and activity on the glass, collecting 18 offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive and wear down La Salle’s defense.
Tara Daye grabbed seven offensive rebounds and Zachara Perkins added five, part of a Rutgers front line that helped the team shoot 43 percent overall, 29-of-67. La Salle finished at 34 percent, 20-of-59, and was held to 5-of-26 from three-point range as Rutgers’ closeouts kept the Explorers from finding a rhythm outside.
Rutgers did put La Salle on the free-throw line plenty, committing 28 fouls and allowing 32 attempts. But the Explorers couldn’t cash in, making just 17 of them. That missed opportunity mattered, especially with Rutgers matching La Salle’s 20-point fourth quarter to close out the 13-point win.
Rutgers returns Sunday against Indiana State at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
In Other News...
Rutgers Watched Michigan Players Turn This Loss Into A Draft Showcase
Michigans win over Rutgers came with a little extra scouting value for anyone tracking the next wave of NFL talent. The Wolverines moved to 5-3, but the bigger takeaway for pro evaluators was how several veterans handled the spotlight, especially on a defense that has leaned on its front and secondary to keep games under control. Senior nose tackle Enow Etta continued to show the kind of growth that has made him more interesting as the season has gone on, flashing both as a run defender and as a pass rusher.
The offensive side was more uneven for Michigan, with tackle Blake Frazier having a tougher afternoon than he would have liked, while cornerback Jyaire Hill held up well in coverage and saw plenty of action against Rutgers passing game. For Rutgers, it was the kind of game that doubled as a reminder that even in a loss, the film can still matter for what it says about the opponents across the line of scrimmage. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Let A Winnable Tournament Game Slip Away Late
Rutgers had a chance to turn a tight Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal into something bigger, but the game never really loosened up until the second half. The Scarlet Knights and Indiana spent much of the first half trading limited looks, and even with Rutgers finishing with a 6-5 edge in shots and a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners, the margin for error stayed razor thin in a 2-1 game.
Indiana struck twice in the third quarter, Rutgers answered to briefly level the match, and the late swing left the Scarlet Knights chasing the result down the stretch. It was the kind of loss that stings because it felt there to be taken, and it closed the book on a season that had enough promise to make the missed opportunity linger a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Schiano Has Become Rutgers Fans Breaking Point
Michigans visit to SHI Stadium offered a blunt snapshot of where Rutgers football stands right now. The atmosphere was sparse, the visiting fans were loud, and the home crowds frustration was easy to read in a season that has already turned into a slog. With a weak defense and an offense that has been stuck in the middle, the Scarlet Knights have given their supporters little reason to believe the program is moving in the right direction.
Greg Schiano has become the center of that unease, because the conversation around Rutgers is no longer just about one rough Saturday. It is about a fan base that has grown tired of the same problems showing up again and again, and a program that feels increasingly disconnected from the energy it needs to build. The question hanging over Rutgers now is whether this is simply a bad stretch or the point where patience finally runs out. [Read more 🡒]