Rutgers Rallies to Defeat Tennessee Tech 70-64

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior JR Inman (Pomona, N.Y.) scored a game-high 18 points as three Scarlet Knights posted double-figures in a 70-64 season-opening win over Tennessee Tech Friday evening at the RAC, in the first game of the Blue Ribbon Challenge. Freshman Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J.) finished with 16 points, the most points scored by a rookie in a season opener since Charles Jones scored 19 in a 70-64 win over Manhattan on Nov. 27, 1993.

Nothing was more emblematic of where the Rutgers program is headed than the 15:55 mark in the first half, when freshman Mike Coburn (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) drove past a Tennessee Tech defender towards the basket, dishing the ball at the last second to fellow freshman Chandler, who laid it in for the easy points, giving Rutgers an early 11-3 lead.

From one rookie to another, Coburn to Chandler, and Rutgers would use their newest members to pull away from Tennessee Tech and win by six. Chandler scored nine of the team's first 11 points in the opening stanza, including seven during a 9-0 Rutgers run. RU would go on to take its biggest lead of the game, 31-20, with 5:02 to go. But a 12-4 run by the Golden Eagles brought them to with in three, 35-32, at half-time.

In the second half, Tennessee Tech poured it on, going on a 12-0 run to give itself a 48-43 lead. But Rutgers would not back down, going on a 15-0 run and outscoring their adversary 27-16 down the stretch to pull away for the six-point victory.

"It was a very tough game," said Hill. "It was a physical game, it was a fast-paced game at times and our guys have to move their feet and can't hand check. I think we're behind defensively from where we would like to be and certainly from this point last year. I thought the kids really stepped up and played excellent defense in spurts. Our effort was outstanding and that's what we ask right now as we continue to build and get better."

Inman'sperformance marked his 34th career double-digit scoring game. He also had the highlight of the contest, at the 13:00 mark of the second half, when he drove past his defender on the right baseline, flying for the one-hand dunk and the foul to bring Rutgers within two 48-50.

The team was also buoyed by the return of redshirt senior Byron Joynes (Baltimore, Md.), who sat out last season with an injury. Joynes scored his first basket in more than a year at the 10:46 mark in the first half. He would finish with five points and 11 rebounds, moving to 41st place all-time with 396 career boards.

"He was a warrior for us," said Hill. "He got 11 rebounds and anchored the defense which is what we expect out of him. His offense we'll get in spurts but really he has to rebound and defend for us." 

The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. at the RAC when they face North Dakota State in the second game of the Blue Ribbon Challenge.