Nov. 14, 2008
Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -Freshman Mike Rosario scored 17 points and sparked a key run as Rutgers held off stubborn Marist 63-61 in a Garden State Challenge game Friday night.
Rosario's output was the most by a Rutgers freshman in a season opener since Mike Jones had 19 in 1993.
Gregory Echenique, another member of the Scarlet Knights touted freshman class, added 11 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots for Rutgers, which played Marist for the first time.
The Red Foxes, in their first game under coach Lawrence Williams and 10 each from David Devezin and Dejuan Goodwin.
The Scarlet Knights played without senior forwards J.R. Inman, last year's leading scorer, and Jaron Griffin. Both are suspended indefinitely for violating team policies.
Trailing 36-32, Rutgers used a 16-2 run to open its biggest lead, 48-38 with 11:27 left. The final basket came on a fast-break layup by Rosario, who had seven points in the run.
Marist, picked to finish last in the 10-team MAAC, battled to within 57-56 with 2:56 to go, but the Red Foxes missed two straight shots and Hamady Ndiaye made two free throws to put Rutgers up by three with 1:41 left.
Rutgers tied a school record with 16 blocks, as Ndiaye had a career-high eight.
