Cliff Omrouyi had the kind of game on Saturday that Rutgers men’s basketball hopes will be a breakout for the rest of the year. Omoruyi had a season-high in scoring to lead Rutgers to an 83-61 win over Long Island University.
With 25 points, Omoruyi scored more points on Saturday than he did in his three previous games, combined (22 points). Omoruyi’s struggled a bit offensively, but in the win over LIU and a week ago in a win at Seton Hall, he looked stronger and more fluid offensively.
Omoruyi was a very efficient 12-of-15 from the floor against LIU.
Rod Strickland, the coach of LIU, played nearly 1,100 games in the NBA. He praised Omoruyi’s display on Saturday. He was one of the top point guards of his generation in the NBA.
“He’s physical and has great athleticism,” Strickland told reporters after the game.
“I think someone like that can’t give them any angles. You have to try to get him to shoot the ball over time. I think at times we did that but he played well. He’s athletic and strong.”
Next up for Rutgers is a game against Mississippi State at the Prudential Center (Newark, New Jersey).
Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell also praised Omoruyi for what was easily his best display of the season.
“First of all, he scored his 1,000th point. I told him you have to start working on the next 1,000th, so we’re 25 into it,” Pikiell told reporters after the game.
“He was locked in, he had good real estate during the game, and he moved well. There were a couple more to that he would probably like to have back. We got him the ball when he was available, and I thought we moved the ball side to side and when we did it is hard to guard him. So he did a great job and he’s been practicing.”