PISCATAWAY, NJ – Junior Corey Sanders scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to guide Rutgers University past NJIT, 73-64, at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) on Thursday.
 
Rutgers is now 6-0 all-time against NJIT, though the two teams had not met since a 77-53 Rutgers home win on Dec. 22, 2011.
 
Rutgers (7-3) pulled away from the Highlanders (5-4) during a 20-6 run that began at 16:24 in the second half. The spurt, fueled by six points from sophomore Eugene Omoruyi and five from Sanders, allowed the Rutgers lead swell to game-high, 17-point lead at 61-44 with 8:58 remaining in the game
 
Yet, NJIT would not go away.
 
The Highlanders scored the next five points and continued to claw their way back into the contest. NJIT trimmed the deficit down to eight points on a jumper by sophomore Anthony Tarke with 2:18 remaining in the game. The Highlanders again drew to within eight points late on a triple by junior Donovan Greer in the final minute, but would pull no closer.
 
Tarke posted game-highs in both scoring (19) and rebounding (12) for his first double-double of the season and fourth of his career. The Gaithersburg, Md., native has now lead the Highlanders in scoring in each of the past three games – averaging 16.7 points per game in the span. His previous season-high of 18 points came in the prior game, a 78-65 win over UMass Lowell, on Sunday.
 
Junior Abdul Lewis tallied 14 points despite fouling out late in the game. The ASUN's leading rebounder finished with seven boards. Greer was the only other double-digit scorer for NJIT with a season-high tying 10 points.

"I think the effort was definitely there," said head coach Brian Kennedy. "The hardest thing as a coach is to get them to play hard; and we definitely played hard." 

Sanders was joined in double figures by three other Scarlet Knights teammates, as senior Deshawn Freeman posted 13 points and Omoruyi and freshman Geo Baker registered 11 points a piece.

"Sanders is an extremely talented player, he played terrific tonight. I know he's got all the talent in the world. Watching him play this year as opposed to when he first got here, he's more under control. He's more of a team guy, trying to get everyone else involved," said Kennedy. 

The Rutgers defense has been the calling card for second-year head coach Steve Pikiell, as the Scarlets Knights came into the contest leading the BIG TEN and ranking second in the nation in scoring defense in allowing just 56.9 points per game. On Thursday, they held NJIT to 23-for-75 (30.7%) shooting and 32 points in each of the halves.
 
Rebounding had also been a strength for the fourth-year BIG TEN member, as the Scarlet Knights came in leading the conference in rebounds per game (46) – which ranked third nationally.
 
However, the undersized Highlanders won the battle on the glass, 42-40, including a season-high 23 offensive rebounds.
 
That, and their ability to create turnovers, kept the Highlanders in the game.
 
NJIT, which came into the game leading the ASUN and ranking 20^th in Division I in steals per game (9.4), registered 15 thefts while inducing 19 total turnovers. Tarke and freshman Zach Cooks both notched a game-high four steals.

"That's kind of our identity. We play full-court, man-to-man defense. I usually play a lot of guys at a lot of minutes. We try to keep the pressure on defensively and try and pick up full court, and use our numbers and our guards that we have to cause some disruptions," added Kennedy. "I think Rutgers did a very good job at the end of the first half. I think Corey and Geo got some guys on their sides and took it right to the basket." 
 
NJIT jumped off to a fast start. Tarke had a quick four points – two coming on a breakaway dunk following a steal – to pace an early 7-0 lead.
 
In fact, the Scarlet Knights did not score in the first 4:36 of the game until an Omoruyi layup. They never held a lead until there was 9:32 left in the first half, when Baker connected on a layup to give the Scarlet Knights a 15-14 advantage.
 
Rutgers took a 33-32 lead into the locker room after a back-and-forth first half that featured five lead changes. Tarke led all scorers at the break with 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting.
 
The momentum of the game began to sway the Rutgers way on a three-point play by senior Mike Williams, which built the lead to a then game-high six points at 44-38 with 15:25 remaining. He scored the bucket on a fine, backdoor feed from Sanders.
 
Sanders then scored Rutgers' next five points including a back-breaking, three-pointer from the wing to put the Scarlet Knights up, 49-40, with 13:24 to play. Again, from that point on, NJIT was unable to get any closer than eight.
 
Junior Diandre Wilson, who came in averaging 12.4 ppg over his prior five games, could not get it going on Thursday. Despite entering the contest ranked eighth in the ASUN in field-goal percentage (.542) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.476), the talented offensive performer was held scoreless on 0-for-10 from the floor, 0-for-5 from deep.
 
Sophomore Shyquan Gibbs and Cooks led NJIT with three assists apiece.
 
NJIT will look to return to the win column against Iona College on Saturday in Newark. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the brand-new Wellness and Events Center. The Highlanders have won their last five affairs at the WEC this season and are 5-1 at home overall.