Rutgers University
Rider
EP43: Clutch Pettis Three-Pointers Provide Victory
Dec 03 | Men's Basketball
TRENTON, N.J. – Sophomore guard Earl Pettis (Philadelphia, Pa.) deposited a pair of clutch three-pointers with under a minute to play to help Rutgers (5-2) to a 66-62 comeback victory over Rider (3-2) Wednesday evening at Sovereign Bank Arena. The Scarlet Knights hit a season-high 10 treys versus the Broncs, their most since making 15 against Syracuse on Feb. 1, 2006. With the victory, RU improved to 2-0 on the road for the first time since the 1991-92 season.
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Earl Pettis' two three-pointers matched his career high.
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The two teams went back-and-forth in the first half, but a late 18-10 run by Rider gave the home team a 36-28 advantage at the midpoint. RU scored the first two baskets of the second stanza to get within four, but the Broncs increased their lead to 10 at the 13:04 mark.
Rutgers stayed strong, hitting three, three-pointers while going on a 20-10 run to tie the game at 60 with just under two minutes to play. Senior Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.) connected twice from downtown, the latter tying the game. Pettis then took over, hitting two treys, including the dagger that gave RU a four-point advantage with 22 seconds to play.
The Scarlet Knights dished-out a season high 19 assists on the evening, including a career-high six helpers from sophomore guard Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J.). RU shot 46.2 percent (24-52), including a 54.2 percent (13-24) mark after the break. Seventy-nine percent of RU’s field goals resulted courtesy of an assist.
Rutgers once again excelled defensively. Ranked 23rd nationally in field goal percentage defense, the Scarlet Knights limited Rider to 37.5 percent (27-72) shooting, including 32.4 percent (11-34) in the second half.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood this Saturday (Dec. 6) to host Binghamton at the RAC in a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.
POSTGAME NOTES
Rutgers is 2-0 on the road for the first time since 1991-92, when it defeated Princeton 46-41 in Princeton, N.J., and Maryland 95-79 in Tucson, Ariz., as part of the Fiesta Bowl Classic.
RU finished with a season-high 10 three pointers, the most since hitting 15 against Syracuse on Feb. 1, 2006.
Rutgers improved to 4-0 when scoring the game’s first points.
Rutgers recorded a season-high 19 assists as a team. RU has recorded an assist on 19 of its 24 baskets, a season-high percentage of 0.792.
All Scarlet Knights who played grabbed at least two rebounds.
Senior JR Inman (Pomona, N.Y.) finished with seven points, giving him 949 for his career, moving him into 40th-place all-time in RU history.
Inman grabbed four rebounds, giving him 578 for his career, tying him with Lee Ammerman for 24th-place all-time in school history.
Inman finished with one block, giving him 97 for his career, and tying him with Eugene Dabney for 10th-place all-time in school history.
Sophomore Corey Chandler (Newark, N.J.) tallied a career-high six assists. His previous high was five, set against North Dakota State on Nov. 11, 2007.
Freshman Gregory Echenique (Guatire, Venezuela) finished with a career-high 15 points. His previous high was 14, set against St. Bonaventure on Nov. 14.
Echenique connected on a career-high seven field goals off a career-high nine attempts. His previous highs were five field goals, set twice, most recently against St. Bonaventure on Nov. 21, and eight attempts, set against Lehigh on Nov. 26.
Freshman Mike Rosario (Jersey City, N.J.) finished with 25 points, two away from his career-high of 27, set against Robert Morris on Nov. 21.
Rosario connected on a career-high six three-pointers, tying the eighth-best single-game mark in RU history. His previous high was five, set against Robert Morris. He matched his career-high with 12 attempts, tying him for the 14th-most three-point attempts in a single game in RU history.
Rosario completed his first career three-point play at the 18:07 mark of the second half.
Rosario recorded a career-high three steals. His previous high was two, set twice, most recently against St. Bonaventure on Nov. 23.
Sophomore Earl Pettis (Philadelphia, Pa.) matched his career-high with two three-pointers, previously set three times, most recently against St. Peter’s on Nov. 30.
