Rutgers holds off Manhattan in ECAC Holiday Festival at MSG
Rutgers' Kadeem Jack (11) shoots against Manhattan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, at Madison Square Garden. Credit: AP / Jason DeCrow
NEW YORK -- Kadeem Jack scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Rutgers to a 63-55 win over Manhattan on Sunday in the first game of the ECAC Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden.
Junior Etou added 16 points and eight rebounds for Rutgers (6-4). Emmy Andujar led Manhattan (2-6) with 21 points and nine rebounds which matched his season high. Ashton Pankey chipped in with 10 for the Jaspers, who have lost four of their last six.
Rutgers finished 19 of 41 from the field, including 2 of 6 from 3 and 23 of 25 from the foul line. Manhattan shot 38.8 percent from the field, 7.1 percent from 3 and made 16 of 24 from the line.
Following Pankey's missed layup, the Jaspers outscored Rutgers 13-8 in a nearly eight-minute span to shave the deficit to 52-50. That was as close as Manhattan would get.
The Scarlet Knights shot 59.1 percent from the field in the first half and enjoyed a 35-25 lead at the break. Manhattan only made 9 of 23 shots before halftime and missed 6 of 7 3-point attempts.
Rutgers committed a season-high 21 turnovers, but had a 35-23 advantage on the boards.
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TIP INS
Manhattan: Sunday afternoon's game was the Jaspers' first at Madison Square Garden since Jan. 24, 2009.
Rutgers: Senior guard Myles Mack entered the game leading the Big 10 in steals with an average of 2.89 per game. He recorded one steal in 38 minutes against Manhattan.
UP NEXT
Manhattan visits Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Rutgers hosts St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday.
