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Box Score

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (11-2) limited Seton Hall (10-2) to just 24.2 percent (8-of-33) shooting in the opening half, but were unable to limit the Pirates' offense for the full 40 minutes in a 72-61 loss Friday night in the Garden State Hardwood Classic at the Prudential Center. Corey Sanders and Nigel Johnson posted 17 and 16 points, respectively, to pace the Scarlet Knights in a game that featured eight ties and nine lead changes.

"We're close," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. "We have to learn how to finish some things and we have to do a better job of executing down the stretch. You saw some minutes there, where we have a chance to be a really good basketball team."

Deshawn Freeman grabbed 11 rebounds to boost a defense that limited SHU to 38.1 percent (24-of-63) shooting, including 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) from behind the arc. Freeman was 5-of-6 from the free throw line, as the Scarlet Knights made 22-of-28 (78.6 percent) from the charity stripe.

RU took a 4-0 lead into the initial media timeout in a defensive battle that saw 48 fouls whistled. The rivals remained within a field goal of one another, before Rutgers went on a 7-0 run, comprised entirely of free throws, to take a 28-21 advantage.

RU grew its lead to nine on two occasions, entering the locker room at the midpoint with a 32-23 lead. The Scarlet Knights limited SHU big man Angel Delgado to 2-of-10 shooting in the opening 20 minutes.

Seton Hall employed a faster attack after the break, pushing in transition to score seven of the initial 10 points. The Pirates' offense, courtesy of the faster tempo and Delgado's scoring in the paint, found its rhythm.

"The first four minutes in the second half were the difference in the game," said Pikiell. "They scored four points on layups. We didn't come out of halftime the right way."

A Sanders layup with just under seven minutes to play provided the visitors a 53-51 lead. With multiple RU players battling foul trouble, SHU went on a 7-0 run to take a 59-53 advantage and never looked back. With the capacity crowd engaged, the home squad made its free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Rutgers returns to the hardwood for its Big Ten opener at No. 14 Wisconsin on Tuesday night. The game will be televised on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

Postgame Notes

Nigel Johnson had 16 points, his 10th time in 13 games scoring in double figures.

Corey Sanders had a team and season-high 17 points, his seventh time this season and 29th time in 40 career games scoring in double-digits.

Deshawn Freeman had 11 rebounds, reaching double-figure rebounding for the ninth time in 13 games. He has led the team in rebounding 11 times this season.

Jonathan Laurent tied his season high with six rebounds.

In a season-high 18 minutes, Ibrahima Diallo had his first three blocks of the season, tying his career-high.

Freshman Eugene Omoruyi made his first career-start and recorded two steals in eight minutes.

The Rutgers bench outscored SHU 15-9, the 12th time this season RU has led in bench points.

Seton Hall now leads the all-time series 39-29.

Rutgers is now 4-4 against Seton Hall in the Prudential Center.