Nov. 22, 2003

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Despite leading by as many as nine points with under 12 minutes left, Lafayette dropped a 71-65 decision to Big East foe Rutgers on Saturday at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.

"I thought for it being an opening game we showed some good signs, but their strength and athleticism wore us down as the game wore on," said Lafayette head coach Fran O'Hanlon.

After a pair of Mike Farrell free throws stretched the Lafayette lead to 48-39 at the 11:45 mark, Rutgers put together a 12-3 run to even the score at 51 with 7:50 left.

With the score tied again at 55 with 4:44 left, Rutgers' Quincy Douby buried a three from the corner to put the Scarlet Knights up 58-55. Douby then swiped a Justin DeBerry pass at the other end and Sean Axani split a pair of foul shots to push the lead to four just under the four-minute mark. DeBerry answered with a pair of free throws to cut the lead to two with 3:28 left, but the Scarlet Knights would make 9 of 12 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Winston Davis hit 7-of-14 shots, including 4-of-6 threes, to finish with a game-high 20 points. DeBerry also hit on 7-of-14 for 19 points, while also handing out five assists and collecting five rebounds. Farrell chipped in seven points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists.

Douby led four Scarlet Knights in double figures with 17 points, while Ricky Shields added 15 and Herve Lamizana and Marquis Webb 13 apiece.

Lafayette held a 40-33 edge on the boards, while Rutgers' intense full-court pressure forced 25 Leopard turnovers.

Lafayette (0-1) returns to action on Monday, hosting Saint Peter's at 7 p.m.