Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) - Weyinmi Efejuku scored a season-high 25 points and Geoff McDermott added 12 rebounds as Providence beat Rutgers 78-68 on Saturday night.

Marshon Brooks and Sharaud Curry added 12 points each for the Friars, who hovered around 50-percent shooting for much of the night and finished 27-for-63 from the field.

Providence (16-9, 8-5 Big East Conference) led throughout the game, opening up a 22-point lead as Rutgers (10-15, 1-11) began 1-for-12 from the field and didn't make back-to-back baskets until the final minutes of the first half.

A 19-3 Rutgers run and improved second-half shooting brought the game to within a single point with 3:21 remaining, but the Friars responded with a 9-0 run of their own down the stretch to put the Scarlet Knights away.

Mike Coburn scored 14 points and Earl Pettis added another 13--season highs for each player--for the Scarlet Knights.