Rutgers secures 67-37 win over Michigan State
The Rutgers men’s basketball team took on Michigan State on Thursday night marking the teams’ second matchup of the season.
The Scarlet Knights (9-6, 5-6) evened the season series with a 67-37 win. Rutgers started the game by scoring 15 unanswered points until the Spartans (8-5, 2-5) got on the board at the 14-minute mark. Junior guard Caleb McConnell led the Knights in the first half with 6 points.
Michigan State came back from a 15-point deficit to make the point difference only 6 going into the half. Rutgers was strong on defense and notched 19 rebounds in the first half, ten of which came from junior center Myles Johnson.
The Knights went into the half with a 26-20 lead and held onto their lead until the end.
Rutgers was nearly perfect from the free-throw line and outscored the Spartans 41-17 in the second half. Johnson notched his fourth double-double of the season while achieving game-high numbers in points, rebounds and blocks. The 6-foot-11-inch center led the team in points and rebounds.
Thursday’s victory marked the first victory over Michigan State in program history and the fifth conference win for the Knights. Senior guards Geo Baker and Jacob Young combined for 21 points while six of Rutgers’ scorers tallied 8 or more points.
With seven blocks and 14 steals, the Knights kept the Spartans to less than 40 points, something that has not happened in Michigan State history since 2008.
Rutgers faces Northwestern on Sunday.
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