PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rasheed Jones and Tariq Francis each scored 14 points, and Rutgers opened its season with an 81-54 victory over New Haven on Friday night to give acting head coach Brandin Knight his first victory.
Jones made his first four 3-point attempts and Rutgers finished 9 of 23 (39%) from distance in Knight’s first official game in place of head coach Steve Pikiell, who is receiving cancer treatment. Jones' fourth 3-pointer gave the Scarlet Knights their largest lead of the game at 67-37.
Francis' only 3-pointer capped a 10-0 run early in the second half for a 51-25 lead as New Haven went the first three minutes without a field goal.
Jamichael Davis added 13 points and Christian Gurdak had 12 for Rutgers. Francis averaged 17.0 points last season, and his 578 points were the most by a Scarlet Knight since Quincy Douby in 2005-06.
Teshaun Steele and Zoumana Traore each scored 15 points for New Haven (1-1), which is in its second season in Division I and the NEC and the second year of a three-year transition from Division II. Aidan Losiewicz added 10 points.
The Chargers opened Monday with a 74-58 loss at Syracuse in Gerry McNamara’s debut as Orange head coach
New Haven: Returns home to play Army on Tuesday.
Rutgers: Hosts NJIT on Tuesday.
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