National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Rutgers 79, Central Conn. St. 37
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Where: Louis Brown Athletic Center, Piscataway, New Jersey
Officials: # Donnie Eppley, # Lewis Garrison, # Rob Kueneman
Attendance: 3811

Reserve guard Nigel Johnson exemplified Rutgers' hot shooting performance in a 79-37 victory over visiting Central Connecticut on Tuesday in Piscataway, N.J., by making 6 of 9 field goal attempts for a game-high 16 points.

The Scarlet Knights (7-1) improved to 6-0 at home by shooting 64.8 percent from the field off a season-high 24 assists.

Central Connecticut (2-5) conversely made only 25 percent of its field goal attempts, including 3 for 17 from 3-point range. Blue Devils sophomore guard Austin Nehls scored a team-high nine points. Nobody else had more than six.

Rutgers took advantage of Central Connecticut's cold shooting and 22 turnovers to win comfortably.

Three Scarlet Knights' starters -- guard Corey Sanders, forward Deshawn Freeman and center C.J. Gettys -- almost outscored Central Connecticut's entire team. They combined for 36 points. Sanders had 14, Freeman 12 and Gettys 10, shooting a combined 17 of 22 from the field.

Rutgers led from when 16:21 remained in the first half. The Scarlet Knights went on a 19-4 run to build a 40-19 lead in the waning seconds before halftime.

Rutgers further pulled away, not allowing Central Connecticut to make a field goal in the second half until 16:15 remained. By that time, the Scarlet Knights were ahead 46-24 and the Blue Devils never drew closer.
Top Game Performances
 
Central Conn. St.   Rutgers
Austin Nehls 9 Scoring Nigel Johnson 16
Khalen Cumberlander 3 Assists Mike Williams 7
Tidell Pierre 7 Rebounds DeShawn Freeman 6
Khalen Cumberlander 3 Free Throws Made Nigel Johnson 2
Tyson Batiste 2 Steals Corey Sanders 5
Mustafa Jones 1 Blocks Shaquille Doorson 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Central Conn. St. 37 25.0 3-17 6-9 8 30 2 5 22
Rutgers 79 64.8 4-10 5-13 24 35 8 14 16