Rutgers Basketball Holds Off Saint Peter's with Late Defensive Surge

Scarlet Knights Win Second Straight to Improve to 5-2

Late defensive surge helps Rutgers beat Saint Peter's

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Caleb McConnell had 16 points, Mawot Mag and Jalen Miller scored 15 apiece and Rutgers held off Saint Peter's 69-60 on Saturday for its second straight victory.

The Scarlet Knights (5-2) have won three of their last four games after dropping their first two.

Saint Peter's (2-4) has lost three in a row.

The Peacocks led 29-23 at the half and stretched their advantage to 33-23 early in the second half before Rutgers rallied.

Mag's 3-pointer capped a 10-0 run that gave the Scarlet Knights a 33-32 lead with 14:33 remaining.

The Peacocks regained the lead, but McConnell's 3-pointer with 7:48 left put Rutgers ahead for good at 50-48.

Saint Peter's got within 61-58 on Doug Edert's 3-pointer with 2:25 to go, but the Peacocks missed their next five shots from the field and Rutgers made 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch to seal it.

Daryl Banks III added 10 points for Rutgers.

Edert led Saint Peter's with 18 points and Jaylen Murray added 11.

The Scarlet Knights shot 38.6% (22 of 57) from the field, including 8 of 31 (25.8%) from 3-point range. Saint Peter's shot 36.2% (21 of 58) from the field, including 8 of 25 (32%) from beyond the arc.

Rutgers outrebounded Saint Peter's 44-34.

The Scarlet Knights return to action Tuesday night when they host Rider.

Saint Peter's next plays Tuesday night at home against Fairleigh Dickinson.