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Rutgers Pulls Away from Men's Hoops, 58-44 (Video Included)
December 04, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Douglas Davis, with a team-high 20 points, had his biggest scoring game since scoring 27 at Manhattan last December 14. It was Davis' first 20-point game since then and the third of his career.
But Davis' performance wasn't enough to overcome a rebounding disadvantage that finished in double digits for the third straight game. Gregory Echenique, who also powered the Scarlet Knights (4-2) last season to a four-point win with a double-double at Jadwin Gym, scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds to lead all players.
The evening started well for Princeton (2-4), which held Rutgers scoreless for the first three minutes in the first half and almost six minutes in the second half.
Video: Sydney Johnson postgame
But Rutgers went on an 11-3 run late in the first half to turn what was a five-point game into 13-point lead Davis drove for a layup as the half expired. That bucket made it 29-18 in favor of Rutgers, but Princeton needed to warm up after a first half that yielded more made free throws -- six -- than its five made field goals. Princeton finished the half 5 for 24 from the field, a 20.8 percent rate.
Turnovers were also a key stat in the first half, even though Princeton (six) had fewer of them than Rutgers (eight). The Scarlet Knights scored 10 points off Princeton's giveaways, while the Tigers capitalized for five points from Rutgers' miscues.
Rutgers' leading scorer on the season and only player averaging double-digit points per game, Mike Rosario (17.6 ppg), hit just 2 of 12 field goals in the game, but his teammates were able to overcome the off night.
Princeton scored the first seven points of the second half to cut the advantage to 29-25 less than six minutes into the half, but Rutgers let the Tigers no closer on the way to the 14-point win.
For the night, Princeton shot 28.8 percent (15 of 52), colder than Rutgers' 37 percent (14 for 46).
Princeton will return home to face Lafayette Sunday for a 5 p.m. tip.