Rutgers routs New Haven 81-54, Knight wins
10 sourcesUpdated Nov 7, 20261 min read
Rutgers opened its season with an 81-54 win over New Haven, giving acting head coach Brandin Knight his first victory while Steve Pikiell undergoes cancer treatment. The Scarlet Knights broke the game open with a 12-2 run early in the second half, extending their lead to 26 points, and forced 17 turnovers. Rasheed Jones and Tariq Francis scored 14 points apiece, while Jamichael Davis added 13 and Christian Gurdak had 12. Rutgers also showcased contributions from newcomers and reserves, including Jones, whose four 3-pointers helped the team shoot 39% from beyond the arc.
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Jones and Francis both hitting double figures should help the scoring spread out all season.
Knight stepping in and getting the win right away has to feel good for the whole program.
Rutgers depth really showed up once they started hitting their stride in the second half.
