The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Rutgers Dominates Second Half to Pull Away from Bryant, 72-51
By Piper Rampage
Photo: GATORFAN2525 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
PISCATAWAY, New Jersey — Rutgers used a decisive second-half surge to remain unbeaten, defeating Bryant 72-51 at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The Scarlet Knights improved to 3-0, while Bryant fell to 1-4 after being held to 20 points in the second half.
Rutgers led 35-31 at halftime, but Bryant briefly took control early after the break. A Pasha three-pointer with 16:34 remaining put the Bulldogs ahead 41-37. Rutgers answered with a 10-0 run to reclaim the lead for good, beginning a stretch in which the Scarlet Knights outscored Bryant 35-10 to close the game.
Christian Gurdak led Rutgers with 20 points and 14 rebounds, shooting 8-of-11 from the field. Jamichael Davis provided a major contribution off the bench, scoring 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Lino Mark added 12 points and eight rebounds.
Roi Behar led Bryant with 19 points, making 7-of-9 shots. But the Bulldogs’ offense struggled after halftime, scoring 20 points compared with Rutgers’ 37. Bryant had held a four-point lead early in the second half, but could not sustain it after the Scarlet Knights’ 10-0 response.
Rutgers held significant advantages in several team categories. The Scarlet Knights outrebounded Bryant 47-29 and scored 36 points in the paint, twice Bryant’s 18. Rutgers also received 28 bench points, compared with six for the Bulldogs.
The Scarlet Knights shot 42.9% from the field, making 24-of-56 attempts. Bryant finished at 33.9%, shooting 20-of-59. Davis’ contribution from beyond the arc helped Rutgers maintain its offensive edge as the second half progressed.
Rutgers added a late 7-0 run to make the score 72-51 with 2:41 remaining. Neither team scored again, leaving the Scarlet Knights with a 21-point victory and an unbeaten record.
The second-half turnaround defined the result: after trailing 41-37, Rutgers responded with a 10-0 run and finished the game on a 35-10 stretch to secure its third win.
Piper Rampage
Men’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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