National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Rutgers 66, Bryant 57
When: 12:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 12, 2023
Where: Jersey Mike's Arena, Piscataway, New Jersey
Officials: # Alfred Smith, # Josh White, # Edwin Young
Attendance: 8000

Aundre Hyatt scored a game-high 19 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer just before the midway point of the second half Sunday afternoon for host Rutgers, which fended off an upset bid by Bryant and escaped with a 66-57 win in Piscataway, N.J.

Clifford Omoruyi posted a double-double (13 points, 15 rebounds) for Rutgers (2-1), which has won two straight following a season-opening loss to Princeton. Derek Simpson added 12 points as the Scarlet Knights improved to 4-0 all-time against Bryant.

Rafael Pinzon had 17 points off the bench for Bryant (1-2), while Connor Withers scored 11 points. Sherif Gross-Bullock (10 points, nine rebounds) flirted with a double-double for the Bulldogs.

Rutgers led 29-25 at the half. Pinzon opened the second with a 3-pointer before Omoruyi scored consecutive baskets and Hyatt sank a 3-pointer to give the Scarlet Knights a 36-28 lead with 18:01 left.

After a timeout, Bryant responded with a 16-5 run in which Pinzon scored nine points for the Bulldogs, who took a 44-41 lead on Withers' 3-pointer with 12:55 remaining.

The teams combined for eight misses and two turnovers during the next 2:05 before Gavin Griffiths hit a layup -- the fourth shot of the possession for Rutgers -- to begin an 8-0 run for the Scarlet Knights that included Hyatt's go-ahead 3-pointer with 10:14 left.

Bryant got within two points three more times, but Omoruyi's layup with 1:55 left -- Rutgers' first field goal in more than five minutes -- extended the Scarlet Knights' lead to 59-55. Simpson then stole the ball from Gross-Bullock and drained two free throws 18 seconds later.

The Bulldogs got no closer than four the rest of the way and Rutgers iced the game by going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 50 seconds. Jamichael Davis' free throws with 13 seconds left provided the final points and gave the Scarlet Knights their biggest lead.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Bryant   Rutgers
Rafael Pinzon 17 Scoring Aundre Hyatt 19
Earl Timberlake 4 Assists Derek Simpson 4
Sherif Gross-Bullock 9 Rebounds Clifford Omoruyi 15
Sherif Gross-Bullock 3 Free Throws Made Derek Simpson 8
Rafael Pinzon 4 Steals Jamichael Davis 2
Earl Timberlake 3 Blocks Aundre Hyatt 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Bryant 57 37.3 6-23 7-11 9 33 7 12 14
Rutgers 66 31.1 4-22 24-34 11 45 4 7 13