Dylan Grant scored 18 points and added 10 rebounds to help Rutgers pull away in the second half to defeat visiting Delaware State 65-50 Monday night.
The Scarlet Knights (7-6, 0-2 Big Ten) shot 30% percent from the floor (17 of 57), but made 24 of their 29 attempts from the free throw line. Rutgers, which was also just 7 of 27 from 3-point territory, began the night at the bottom of the Big Ten in field goal percentage (41.2%).
Tariq Francis added a game-high 19 points for Rutgers, which received a game-high 12 rebounds from starting center Emmanuel Ogbole. The Scarlet Knights had a 52-28 rebounding advantage.
Miles Webb had 16 points and eight rebounds for Delaware State, which went nearly nine minutes without a field goal in the second half. Ponce James was the only other player who scored in double figures (12) for the Hornets (5-10).
Delaware State entered the game ranked last in the MEAC in both scoring (61.9 ppg) and rebounding (31.8). The Hornets dropped to 1-8 on the road.
Rutgers is the third Power 4 team Delaware State has played this season. The Hornets lost to Syracuse, 83-43, and to Miami, 97-41.
Despite committing nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes, Rutgers had a 31-24 lead at halftime. Delaware State was scoreless for the final 3:15 of the half.
The Scarlet Knights had a 23-11 edge in rebounds during the first half, including a 9-1 advantage in offensive rebounds. Rutgers also had a 15-0 advantage in second-chance points.
Rutgers had its first double-digit lead on a Grant free throw that put the Scarlet Knights up 34-24 with 18:47 left, and the Hornets faced their largest deficit after Kaden Powers made two free throws to make it 53-33 with 7:37 to play.
