Rutgers men’s basketball overcame a sluggish start on Friday to secure a 72-51 victory against Bryant.
The game was described as a tale of two halves, according to Yahoo Sports.
Although the Scarlet Knights held an early 11-2 lead, the team struggled with defensive assignments and offensive execution throughout the first half.
Rutgers entered the locker room with a slim 35-31 lead before Bryant briefly took a four-point advantage early in the second half.
The Bulldogs were ultimately outscored 35-10 for the remainder of the contest, allowing the Knights to pull away for a 21-point win.
Center Christian Gurdak anchored the effort with a double-double, contributing 20 points and 14 rebounds, per Yahoo Sports.
JaMicheal Davis added 18 points while Lino Mark recorded 12 points and eight rebounds.
Bulldogs forward Roi Behar proved difficult for the Rutgers defense, tallying 19 points and hitting five of seven three-point attempts.
The Knights benefited significantly from the free-throw line, where they converted 20 of 28 attempts.
Despite the win, coaching staff and analysts noted that the team must address slow offensive starts and defensive lapses before facing tougher competition.
Rutgers hit 36% of its shots from beyond the arc, but the team attempted only 11 three-pointers during the entire game.
The Scarlet Knights are scheduled to face No. 8 Houston on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. in Las Vegas.
That matchup, part of the Players Era Tournament, will be held at the Michelob Ultra Arena, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Live coverage of the upcoming contest will be available for fans on ESPN.
Improving perimeter defense and overall consistency remains a top priority for the program as the level of competition rises significantly in the next round of play.