PISCATAWAY — Leadership and veteran presence cannot be downplayed in college basketball.
When Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. decided to return to Rutgers, it gave the Scarlet Knights a renewed sense of urgency. This was supposed to be key down the stretch of the season but fans got an early-season taste on Tuesday night.
Harper Jr. and Baker combined to score 39 points as Rutgers used a big second half to take down NJIT 75-61 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
NJIT (1-2) came into the contest having played the same schedule as Rutgers — a 17-point victory over Lehigh and an eight-point loss to Merrimack.