PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Myles Mack scored 23 points and Rutgers used blistering first-half shooting to defeat UAB 88-79 Sunday.
Rutgers (7-2) was playing its first game without head coach Mike Rice, who was suspended for three games without pay due to a violation of athletic department policy. Assistant David Cox is coaching the team in Rice’s absence.
Rutgers got 20 points from Eli Carter and 10 from Dane Miller.
UAB (5-6), which whittled a 25-point deficit to seven with just over three minutes remaining, got a career-high 23 points from Jordan Swing, while Preston Purifoy had a career-high 20 and Rod Rucker 14.
The Scarlet Knights took a 36-11 lead by making their first 10 shots and 15 of their first 16. Rutgers shot 17-for-23 (73.9 percent in the half) and finished 27-for-45 (60 percent).
UAB got within 74-67 with 3:05 remaining but Carter responded with a three-point play.
