PISCATAWAY — After getting mauled two days earlier and trailing at halftime last night, after listening to coach Mike Rice’s locker room rant and seeing him toss a couple of cups of water, Rutgers’ veterans finally took up the challenge.

Then they took apart Sacred Heart, 91-75, at the RAC.

Dane Miller, Austin Johnson and Gilvydas Biruta led a defensive charge, opening the second half with an 18-3 run and smothering Sacred Heart. The Scarlet Knights (2-1) put six scorers in double figures for the first time since 2005-06 season and shot 80.8 percent in the second half.

But it was their withering defense that was the key.

With Rutgers trailing 35-32 at the intermission, Miller (14 points, four assists, four rebounds, four steals) sparked the momentum-changing run. with six points, two assists and three steals in the first 2:35 of the second half, including three steals in just 31 seconds.

“It definitely did [have an impact],” Miller said. “Guys saw me getting into the ball, pressing the ball. I just wanted to set an example, and I got the steal. Other guys tried to step up … with the same energy.’’

It was a far cry from Rutgers’ 15-point loss in Miami, where the Scarlet Knights shot just 36.9 percent. Granted, Miami is on a different level than Sacred Heart (2-1), but in last night’s second half so was RU.

Down 38-37, Rutgers scored 13 unanswered points, with Biruta taking two charges, adding two assists and finishing the blitz with a layup,.

“I challenged [Miller and Johnson]. I thought their actions were too silent, too passive. I don’t know what clicked, but they certainly played like upperclassmen. They had an urgency that was infectious,’’ said Rice, who singled out Miller for praise. “He just went and said this is what upperclassmen do. This is what leaders do. He just went and lifted us up.’’