Rutgers Beats Temple 71-66 for Their First AAC Victory

Craig Brown was the difference.

In the first half, Quenton DeCosey was lighting up whoever defended him for 17 points.  By the ten minute mark of the 2nd half, DeCrocy had 25 points.  Junior Etou couldn't stop him.  So, Eddie Jordan substituted in Brown, who promptly locked down the Temple star.

Rutgers was able to push the ball and their lead to 7.  And then Dalton Pepper got hot, scoring 19 straight points for Temple.  So Jordan shifted Brown to cover Peppers.

It was--get ready for this--a defensive clinic.

The game, however, still came down to the last 30 seconds.  After Temple took a one point lead, Myles Mack found Etou on the block.  Etou took the ball to the hoop, got fouled and counted the basket.  He made the free throw.

Temple didn't score again.  J.J. Moore hit two free throws and Wally Judge--who put up another solid game finished it off.  But Kadeem Jack was the breakout offensive star tonight, with 18 points and 6 rebounds.  Jack was unstoppable in the second half.  He was a highlight dunk machine.

Rutgers didn't try to win by the three tonight.  They pounded the ball inside and got results.  This was probably Jordan's best coached game so far.  He made adjustments on defense.

Particularly subbing in Craig Brown.

--Jerome Seagears sat out with a twisted ankle tonight.

--Yes, I will be shaving the beard tonight.

Here are game highlights from Scarlet Knights.com: