By JEREMY FUCHS
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — It takes a village to score.
A few days being unable to buy a basket against George Washington, Rutgers guard Bishop Daniels spearheaded a balanced and efficient offensive attack as the Scarlet Knights beat Fairleigh Dickinson Wednesday at the Rutgers Athletic Center, 61-44.
A year ago, FDU beat both Rutgers and Seton Hall, and on Friday coach Greg Herenda’s team beat St. Joe’s in Philadelphia.
Daniels scored a career-high 18 points, and Junior Etou had an equally impressive double-double, with 11 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. It was the first double-double of Etou’s career. Myles Mack and D.J. Foreman chipped in with nine and seven points, respectively.
After shooting a putrid 35 percent from the field against GW, and 22 percent from downtown, Rutgers (2-1) found its offensive groove, shooting nearly 40 percent on field goals, 33 percent from beyond the arc and 76 percent from the line. More impressively, the Scarlet Knights shot an impressive 56 percent from the field in the first half.
“First half, we did a great job defensively,” coach Eddie Jordan said. “We executed our game plan most of the game. I would think 80 percent of the time in the first half we were really, really good. Our offense was clicking in the first half as far as finding seams in their zones, converting in the paint…Our forwards did a good job finding the open gaps.”
Beyond the improved shooting, it was the defense that was truly suffocating. Led by Etou and Greg Lewis, the Knights held Fairleigh Dickinson to just 30 percent from the field and 20 percent from behind the arc. Coming into this game, FDU had been shooting 48 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc.
“We all got back pretty well,” Jordan said. “We did a great job defensively. Junior’s our key defensively. Lewis did a good job defensively.”
Even without center and star player Kadeem Jack, out again with a thumb injury, the Knights took advantage of FDU’s lack of height. Darius Stokes, who finished with eight points, is the tallest player on the Knights, at 6-7. A starting lineup of Foreman, Etou and Lewis were able to keep the paint clogged and forced FDU to take contested shots from the perimeter.
Jordan said they hope to have Jack back this weekend.
Mustafa Jones led Fairleigh Dickinson with 15 points and Darian Anderson, who entered the game shooting a ridiculous 71 percent from beyond the arc, was held to just seven points and only one three. St. Joe’s-Metuchen product Marques Townes was held to four points.
“Our defense was solid for the most part,” Jordan said. “And we didn’t locate Mustafa Jones a few times on the three. He got loose on Bishop, got loose on Myles, and I thought Mike Williams did a terrific job face-guarding him for about four, five possessions. That was key. It was something that doesn’t show up in the box score. But again, that’s what I like. I like guys who get things done and don’t show up in the box score.”
Daniels led the way, as his speed and decisive play gave FDU fits. He took pressure off of Mack, who was relatively quiet after scoring 14 points in the season-opener. Daniels looked far more comfortable in his second game for the Scarlet Knights. After scoring just six points against George Washington, he was far more confident, and aggressively attacked the basket.
“I know what my capabilities [are],” Daniels said. “With my teammates helping me out, I knew I didn’t have to force [it]. Just playing with that Eddie Jordan system. Just getting better as a team.”
Photo: ScarletKnights.com
