Rutgers overcomes early air balls to blow out New Haven, secure first win for acting head coach Brandin Knight
Rutgers will play NJIT next on Tuesday
Undefeated Rutgers battled early struggles to defeat New Haven, securing their first win under acting head coach Brandin Knight. The Scarlet Knights launched numerous air balls and faced New Haven's strong three-point shooting and offensive rebounds. However, Rutgers found its rhythm in the closing minutes of the first half when point guard Tariq Francis connected an alley-oop pass to backcourt mate Jamichael Davis, who finished with 13 points and 5 of 5 shots.
Midway through the second half, Davis hit a crucial three-pointer, swelling the lead to 15 points. Knight, who replaced absent head coach Steve Pikiell, praised his team's cohesion, stating, "It felt electric for the first night. My happiness comes in how we do as a team." With a new roster in transition, Rutgers will rely on chemistry and defensive effort to build upon this early success as they prepare for Big Ten play.
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