PISCATAWAY – Throughout Rutgers basketball’s preseason, there were rumblings that Jaden Jones was ready to take the next step after a freshman year on the bench.

On Saturday, those rumblings became a roar.  

The versatile wing exploded down the stretch, scoring nine points to help the Scarlet Knights pull away from pesky Merrimack for a 48-35 victory before a relieved crowd of 6,500 at Jersey Mikes Arena.

“Coaches told me to be ready, and I felt like I was ready,” Jones said. “I was very confident, and hearing the crowd, that helps a lot too. That noise really helps.”

Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Jaden Jones (45) reacts after making a basket in front of Merrimack Warriors forward Jordan Minor (22)

Jones’ heady play was crystallized in one bizarre sequence with 5:30 left. After Ron Harper Jr. missed the front end of a one-and-one, everyone stood around like there was a second shot coming. Only Jones reacted, and his put-back effectively buried the dagger for the Scarlet Knights, who are now 2-0 after a couple of shaky moments.

“It was natural instincts, to get the ball and put it back up,” Jones said. 

Harper Jr. appreciated it more than anyone.

“He saw everybody looking around and said, ‘Let me go get these two gimme points,” said the senior, who finished with a team-high 13 points and grabbed 11 boards. “It was a big turning point in the game, a heady play, so kudos to the young fellow who has an impeccable IQ.”

The 6-foot-8 sophomore wing, who enrolled in January of 2021 but mostly sat as he learned Steve Pikiell’s system and hit the weight room, finished with nine points on 3-of-4 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws in 15 minutes as a sub.

“He hit some big shots,” Pikiell said. “We keep seeing him getting better and better. What I really like is defensively he did some good things today. He’s been better in that area, too.” 

Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Aundre Hyatt (5) shoots the ball as Merrimack Warriors forward Jordan Minor (22) and guard Devin Jensen (14) defend

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

1. Huge shot Hyatt

Aundre Hyatt clearly is a high-major athlete. On Saturday, he proved capable of making a big shot. The versatile transfer from LSU posted eight points and four rebounds off the bench, and his 3-pointer from the deep right wing was the shot of the game. It put Rutgers ahead 36-29 with 6:59 left, and the Scarlet Knights never looked back.

“In my head I felt like we needed to get a bucket to widen the gap,” he said. “Geo (Baker) passed it to me and my feet were ready and I just let it go.”

Hyatt also logged two assists, a block and a steal in 25 minutes. He was superb defensively and posted a team-high plus/minus of plus-18. 

“The bench guys have to bring that extra energy,” he said. “We have to play our part, play our role to impact the win. I felt like we did a really good job in this game.”

Harper was even more blunt about it. 

“I love playing with Aundre and Jaden,” he said. “They came here and embraced their roles and are doing their best at it. Without their contributions, we wouldn’t have won. Two unselfish dudes you want to play with.”

2. Pick up the pace

It’s hard to fathom why Rutgers walks the ball up the court so often. The Scarlet Knights sport a nine-man rotation and have an athletic center. They’re struggling to make a shot. All told, they managed just eight fast-break points despite collecting 49 rebounds. That’s unfathomable, and it gave Merrimack time to set up its 2-3 zone. 

“I would like to,” Pikiell said when asked about upping the tempo. “I thought we were just a little hesitant. When you hesitate against a team like that, you’re going to be guarded.”

Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Mawot Mag (3) looks to pass against the Merrimack Warriors during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena.

3. Brutal shooting

Starting guards Baker, Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell shot a combined 1-of-15 from the field, including 1-of-7 from 3-point range. Baker did hand out six assists without a turnover but Mulcahy and McConnell coughed it up five times. 

On the game, the Scarlet Knights shot 31% from the field, 4-of-14 (28%) from distance and 14-of-22 (.636) from the free-throw line. Their 16-point, 10-turnover first half was painful to watch. This group is too experienced for that to happen. 

“One of the worst offensive performances for a half since I’ve been here,” Harper said. “I’m proud of how this team responded. Pikiell said at half, ‘Don’t let our offense affect our defense.’ Us holding them to 12 second-half points was huge.”

Merrimack Warriors forward Jordan Minor (22) dunks the ball in front of Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Caleb McConnell (22) and center Cliff Omoruyi (11) during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena.

4. Tip the hat to Merrimack

This is a third-year Division I program but doesn’t play like one. The Warriors already own a Northeast Conference regular-season title and project to compete at the top of that league again.

Head coach Joey Gallo is a Jersey guy through and through — New Brunswick-born, Milltown-raised, played at Bishop Ahr and Princeton Day, worked at the Hoop Group.

It shows in his team’s toughness.

“A childhood friend of mine, Chris Eibler, does the scoreboard,” Gallo said. “At halftime when I heard the fight song, it was hard to not sing it because I’ve been going to games here since I was probably six years old. I love what Coach Pikiell and his staff do with these guys. Every other night of the year, I’m a huge Rutgers fan.” 

Gallo has recruited the Garden State heavily. Senior guard Mikey Watkins, a Linden High School alum, held his own against Rutgers with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.

“I couldn’t be prouder with how we fought and defended,” Gallo said. “We definitely didn’t back down to a much bigger opponent.”

Pikiell was impressed. 

“He’s good coach and they have a lot of New Jersey guys, and those guys were hyped up to be back,” he said. 

Merrimack Warriors head coach Joe Gallo reacts during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike's Arena.

5. Good crowd

The sellout obviously involved a ticket giveaway — it wasn’t close to capacity — but the student section was 80 percent full and did its best to will Rutgers to life in the second half. Playing a Saturday afternoon opposite Rutgers football is a tough slot and not something that happens often. Those who showed did their part.

“Saturday aftenroon, everyone’s watching football — I was happy with it,” Harper said of the turnout. “I’m just happy to have everyone back after last year. They matter so much, they don’t even know.”

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at [email protected].

Source: Asbury Park

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