WITHOUT ECHENIQUE, HAMADY STEPS UP BIG FOR RUTGERS

Things are not getting any easier for Rutgers as the RU Men Overcome Loss of Greg Echenique and Slow Start to Defeat Monmouth (Star-Ledger) 66-52 Wednesday night at the RAC. Echenique is Expected to Miss a Month (NewJerseyNewsRoom.com), maybe more, after undergoing eye surgery Wednesday to repair a pre-existing condition. The loss is a big blow to the Scarlet Knights as Eqchenique has been averaging 12.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, and was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll this past Monday.

Hamady N'Diaye Fills in Well for Echenique (Asbury park Press) as the 7-foot senior scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked 8 shots in 29 minutes. Rutgers Erases 2nd Half Deficit With 17-1 Run (Asbury Park Press).

Trailing 37-34 early in the second half, the Scarlet Knights embarked ont he game-changing run over the next 6:14 to open a 51-38 advantage to hand Monmouth their 36th loss in 36 tries against Big East opponents.

Mike Rosario had a game-high 23 points for RU.