Denis Badalau scored a game-high 19 factors, all within the first half, and Tariq Francis completed with 12 to guide Rutgers to a 72-60 nonconference victory over Maine on Monday in Piscataway, N.J.
Dylan Grant added 10 factors and 10 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights (2-0), who scored 25 factors off 18 Maine turnovers.
Isaac Bonilla made 4 3-pointers and led the Black Bears (0-3) with 12 factors. Bashir N’Galang added 11 factors and TJ Biel had 10 for Maine, which by no means led within the recreation.
Rutgers gained regardless of lacking 11 of its 29 free-throw makes an attempt. Maine was 7 of 13 from the free throw line.
Maine performed with out ahead Ryan Mabrey, who’s nursing an ankle damage. Mabrey averaged 9.5 factors and 4.5 rebounds per recreation in Maine’s first two contests.
Rutgers used a 13-0 run to take an early 15-2 lead, however Maine answered with a 9-0 spurt to drag inside 22-15 with 8:35 left within the first half. Badalau hit a 3-pointer to place the Scarlet Knights up 28-15, and Badalau hit one other 3 a minute afterward the quick break.
Badalau’s fourth and last 3-pointer of the sport gave Rutgers a 34-25 lead with 2:28 remaining within the half.
Maine was inside 4 factors, 34-30, following a Keelan Steele basket with 1:10 left within the half, however Francis sank a 3-pointer handy Rutgers a 37-30 halftime lead.
Badalau made 6 of 8 photographs within the half, together with 4 of 5 3-pointers.
Rutgers scored the primary 10 factors of the second half to stretch its result in 47-30. Maine did not rating within the second half till a Yanis Bamba 3-pointer with 15:36 to play.
The Scarlet Knights went up by 17 when Harun Zrno made two free throws that pushed the result in 58-41 with 10:43 left. Maine did not get any nearer than 12 factors the remainder of the best way. The Rutgers lead peaked at 18 factors.
–Subject Degree Media
