Sterling Gibbs scores 27 points to lead Seton Hall to a 77-71 win over Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Sterling Gibbs scored 27 points, and center Eugene Teague collected 16 points and 16 rebounds to lead Seton Hall past Rutgers, 77-71, on Sunday at the Rutgers Athletic Center.

Gibbs sank two free throws with 1:25 to go and two more with 23.9 on the clock to help seal it.

Seton Hall (6-3) snapped a three-game losing streak to its in-state rival Rutgers (4-6).

Myles Mack led Rutgers with 20 points, and backcourt mate Jerome Seagears had 18. Teague earned the Joe Calabrese award as the game's most outstanding player.

Teague came through with his second straight double-double, making up for the loss of leading scorer, Fuquan Edwin, who was out with an ankle injury suffered in the previous game.

Brandon Mobley hit a big 3-point shot from the top of the key for Seton Hall with 3:19 left. After Mack scored, Teague threw down a dunk off a feed from Gibbs to stake the Pirates to a 72-61 lead.

But Rutgers scored 10 quick points, on a 3-pointer by Seagears, three foul shots by Mack and two baskets inside by J.J. Moore, the second a dunk on an alley-oop pass from Mack, slicing it to 72-71 with 1:32 left.

With 7:22 left, Rutgers' Junior Etou went flying backwards and crashed to the floor going for a rebound. The officials reviewed the play and determined a flagrant foul had been committed by Seton Hall's Brian Oliver. Oliver, who had 11 points, was ejected from the game.

Etou made one of the two free throws awarded. Rutgers was given possession because of the foul, and Mack scored to cut the deficit 61-55.

Seton Hall received a scare with 11:51 left when Gibbs drove to the basket and went down hard as his shot was blocked. Gibbs left the game but returned with 9:36 to go.

Gibbs showed that he was good to go when he drove between two defenders in the lane and put up a shot that banked in as he was fouled. Gibbs sank the bonus for a 61-52 lead with 7:55 left.

Seton Hall had opened the second half with a 10-4 burst. Teague sank two foul shots, Mobley drained a 3-pointer off a pass from Gibbs and Gibbs hit a 3-pointer before Mobley sank two fouls for a 47-37 Pirate lead with 17:01 to play.

Gibbs was red hot in the first half, scoring 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting. His 3-pointer just before the buzzer handed Seton Hall a 37-33 lead at the break.