The rookie was pretty good.

Miami University freshman Reggie Johnson poured in 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting (3-of-5 from 3-point range) Tuesday night as the RedHawks men’s basketball team blitzed Grambling State 80-54 at Millett Hall.

“We talked about moving the ball and sharing the ball as a team,” said Johnson, a Chicago native. “We just hit the open man, and I just happened to be on the end of a lot of those open passes.”

MU erased an eight-point deficit with a 27-point run in the second half. The first seven points in that binge came from Johnson, who also had five rebounds and five steals.

“The way it’s set is, you never know who it’s going to come from in a night,” Johnson said. “I’m willing to be a defender one night or a facilitator one night. Just whatever needs to be done.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound guard said he still feels like a freshman and admitted he was “overwhelmed with the atmosphere” at North Carolina State last Friday.

“Tonight, it was fun,” Johnson said. “I’m just taking everything in. As Q can tell you, I’ve been asking a lot of questions and observing a lot.”

Q, otherwise known as Miami junior guard Quinten Rollins, replied, “He can’t feel like a freshman, though. We need him to play like an upperclassman, so his freshman game was N.C. State. He’s an upperclassman now if you ask me.”

RedHawks coach John Cooper said Johnson plays “with supreme confidence.”

“He’s not necessarily the quickest or most athletic kid, but he makes the right decision,” Cooper said. “His body allows him to take contact and do all those things. More than anything, he has confidence, and I think our team now has confidence in him.”

“Our emphasis today was toughness, to get on the floor and to box out and rebound,” Johnson said. “Every loose ball was supposed to be ours.”

The record book: Miami broke the single-game school record for steals with 22. The old mark was 18 against DePauw on Dec. 4, 1991, and Centre on Dec. 2, 1985.

Rollins tied the single-game individual record with seven steals. He now shares that mark with Ron Harper, Damon Frierson and Chuck Goodyear.

“I think I had six one game freshman year against Bowling Green, and I was mad I didn’t get it then,” Rollins said. “I knew I was going to get another opportunity. It just happened to be tonight. I’m honored.”

MU stat pack: The RedHawks earned a 34-31 board advantage, led by Jon Harris’ eight rebounds.

Bill Edwards scored all 11 of his points in the second half. He sank 3-of-4 treys.

Freshman Geovonie McKnight totaled 4 points, four assists, three steals and three boards.

Forty-seven of MU’s points came off turnovers.

The RedHawks have won 21 of their last 22 home openers.