On Saturday afternoon, Rutgers winning streak came to end against Mississippi State. The Scarlet Knights had won two straight and were undefeated at the Prudential Center. However, they had no answer for the Bulldogs offense.
Mississippi State put 70 points on the board and got impressive performances from Jimmy Bell Jr. and Cameron Matthews. The talented duo combined for 35 points and 29 rebounds. They helped the Bulldogs pull away in the second half and secure their eighth win of the season.
Additionally, Mississippi State shut down one of Rutgers best players, Clifford Omoruyi. After scoring a career-high 25 points against Long Island last Saturday, he only scored three points in 20 minutes. He also struggled on the boards and did not record a rebound.
The stepback triple is GOOD đź’¦@aundrehyatt_15 x @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/ITUvd4PpAs
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 23, 2023
While Rutgers struggled in the second half, there were some bright spots. That includes Aundre Hyatt, who scored a team-high 18 points. It marked the third time in Hyatt’s last four games that he scored at least ten points.
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On Saturday, Rutgers biggest issue was their ability to take care of the ball. The Scarlet Knights committed 14 turnovers, while the Bulldogs only committed 8. That allowed the Bulldogs to build a lead in the second while outrebounding Rutgers 47-26.
Rutgers will look to get back on track when they welcome Stonewall to Jersey Mike’s Arena on January 30.