Rutgers 60, Columbia 36

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP)—Jerome Coleman scored 18 points and Rutgers forced Columbia into 27 turnovers in a 60-36 victory Monday night in the first round of the Preseason NIT.

Rutgers defeated Columbia for the eighth straight time and the 12th time in 13 games. The Knights will travel to North Carolina, which beat Penn State 85-55, in the second round on Wednesday night.

It was the fewest points allowed by a Rutgers team since a 30-29 loss to St. Bonaventure on Jan. 25, 1982, and the fewest the Knights allowed Columbia since a 32-31 loss in the 1926-27 season.

The game was a mismatch from the start. Rutgers had four starters return from last year’s 18-13 team, and Columbia lost four starters from an 11-17 squad.

Rutgers broke the game open with a man-to-man, trapping defense that held Columbia scoreless for two long stretches in the first half. Leading 4-2, the Knights went on a 14-0 run in the next 6:33 as Columbia shot 0-for-4 with eight turnovers.

The Knights scored 11 straight points to open a 33-9 lead with 2:42 left in the half. The Knights led 36-14 at halftime, as Columbia went scoreless for another 6:16, and finished the half with 19 turnovers while shooting 5-for-13.

Rutgers’ offense was inconsistent in the first half, shooting 40.6 percent overall, including 1-of-12 from 3-point range. Coleman had 11 points in the half, while Ricky Shields added all nine of his points in the half.

Columbia got no closer than 21 points in the second half, and Rutgers opened its biggest lead at 58-28. When Columbia’s Marco McCottry scored on a layup to make it 46-24 with 11:16 left, it marked the first time the Lions had more points than turnovers.

Calvin Wooten had nine points for Rutgers, which shot 40.4 percent with 12 turnovers. Jeremiah Boswell and Tito Hill led Columbia with five points each.

Rutgers freshman Cortez Davis did not play in the game due to a violation of a team rule.