Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (12/6/09) – Senior shooting guard Kyle Roemer (Martinez, Calif.) had 21 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double this season, but Rutgers (5-2) overcame a 35-30 halftime deficit to defeat Colgate 76-67 in a non-conference match-up at the Rutgers Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Scarlet Knights jumped out to an 11-5 advantage after a jumper from Mike Coburn, but sophomore forward Yaw Gyawu (Lilburn, Ga.) responded with three straight buckets to tie the game. A jumper from Ben Jonson (Dallas, Texas) and a three-pointer from sophomore point guard Anthony Hill (Plano, Texas) gave the Raiders a 16-11 advantage, capping off an 11-0 run.

Colgate led 20-18 with six minutes remaining before Roemer caught fire. Roemer, who had made only one three-point basket at this point, scored 13 points in the last six minutes of the half to help give the Raiders the five-point halftime lead. Roemer had 16 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Colgate also benefitted from Rutgers turnovers in the first half, as the Raiders scored 11 points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.
   
Roemer opened the second half with a jumper to give Colgate its largest lead of the game at seven points, but Rutgers responded with an 8-0 run on two consecutive three-pointers and two free throws that gave the Scarlet Knights the lead. Colgate would rebound to tie the game at 40, though a three-pointer from James Beatty sparked a 12-2 Rutgers run to give the Scarlet Knights a 52-42 lead. Colgate came with six points with 3:45 remaining after two free throws from freshman point guard Mitch Rolls (Coffeyville, Kan.), but Rutgers made its free throws and got some key points in the paint down the stretch to seal the win.
   
Rutgers center Gregory Echenique, finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. The Scarlet Knights guard Dane Miller posted 15 points and eight rebounds while playing tough defense in the second half. Mike Rosario scored 14 points off the bench. Rutgers made 29-of-38 free throws for a 76 percent clip.
   
For Colgate, Gyawu scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished four assists. Jonson was Colgate's third double-digit scorer with 11 points. Hill scored eight and led Colgate with five assists. Freshman forward Brandon James (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) grabbed a career-high seven rebounds in just 13 minutes.
   
Colgate has obtained a halftime lead in five of its eight games played this year, but has been outscored in the second half by all but one of its opponents.
   
The Raiders (0-8) will now enter a two-game home stand against Stony Brook and UTSA. Colgate will play Stony Brook on Saturday at 2 p.m. before facing UTSA on Sunday, December 20 at 7 p.m.