Steve Pikiell ‘learned a lot about’ Rutgers in blowout loss to Tennessee: ‘We won the 2nd half’

LAS VEGAS — Steve Pikiell is looking on the bright side.

Minutes after his team was crushed by No. 17 Tennessee in an 85-60 loss at MGM Grand Arena that was not as close as the score indicated, the Rutgers coach said he “learned a lot about” his team.

For Pikiell, the big takeaway from a game where the Scarlet Knights (4-2) trailed the Volunteers (5-0) by 26 at halftime and as much as 36 points in the second half was that they “kept on fighting.”

Rutgers closed the game on an 18-7 run in the final six minutes and 43 seconds.

“When you come into halftime and you spot a top (20) team that many points, you could do two things,” Pikiell said. “And we just kept fighting. We won the half, 30 to 29, and held them to 29 points. You got to take some positives. Obviously, it’s a loss.”