Dylan Grant scored 18 of his career-high 28 points in the first half, and Rutgers held off a slight comeback for an 84-72 victory over Lehigh on Friday in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Emmanuel Ogbole scored 15 of his career-high 16 points in the second half and added 10 rebounds for his first career double-double for the Scarlet Knights (3-0), who returned only two part-time starters after losing top-10 NBA picks Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Grant, who made 16 starts last season, is their most experienced returning player.
Nasir Whitlock scored 21 points, Joshua Ingram added 14 points and Hank Alvey contributed 12 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Mountain Hawks (1-3), whose first two losses were to conference No. 1 opponents Houston and West Virginia.
The taller Scarlet Knights shot 50.8 percent from the field — Grant was 9 of 15 — and had a 45-26 rebounding advantage.
Lehigh shot 42.6% from the field. After hitting four 3-pointers in the first eight minutes, the Mountain Hawks finished 9 of 25 from beyond the arc.
Jamichael Davis had 14 points, and his 3-pointer six minutes into the second half gave Rutgers its largest lead at 53-40.
Lehigh pulled within two at 61-59 after a 15-6 run capped by the second of four threes from Ingram.
Grant and Ogbole combined for 10 points as Rutgers regained control, extending the lead to 71-62. Lehigh was never within seven hours the rest of the way.
Lehigh hasn’t beaten a power conference opponent since a 2016 win over Mississippi State.
Lehigh led 16-13 after its first three-point burst before Rutgers rallied behind Grant, who was 5 of 6 from the field and made all seven free throw attempts in the first half.
Grant had five points and Francis four in a 13-4 run capped by Grant’s three-point play for a 36-28 lead with 2:31 left in the half. The Scarlet Knights led 41-34 at halftime.
–Field level media
