KENT, Ohio (Mar. 16)(AP) - Trevor Huffman scored 18 points and hit 2-of-3 from
the 3-point range to lead Kent to a 73-62 victory over Rutgers on
March 16 in the opening game of the National Invitation
Tournament.
Kent (22-7) advances to the second round of the tournament and will
play against Villanova (20-12).
Kent scored 30 points off turnovers, compared to six for Rutgers
(15-16), and had 30 points in the paint. Rutgers outrebounded Kent
40-25.
Rutgers struggled with 3-pointers, hitting just 3-of-12 shots.
The two teams tied it up five times in the first half and then the
Golden Flashes went on a 12-2 run to lead 36-26 at the 4:25 mark. Kent
led 43-33
at the half and shot 45 percent from the field.
Helped by a 16-3 run, Rutgers came within one point with 11:01 left in
the game but Kent answered with a 7-0 run to lead 63-54 at the 4:21
mark.
Huffman made 5-of-6 free throws in the last three minutes of play.
Andrew Mitchell added 13 points and four rebounds for the Golden
Flashes.
Rutgers was led by Dahntay Jones with 16 points, including making
5-of-7 free throws. Todd Billet added 14 points, pulled down five
rebounds and
led the team with five assists.