Rutgers 79, Howard 55: Sophomore guard Eli Carter scored 20 points and had three steals to lead the host Scarlet Knights to their eighth win in nine games.

Guard Myles Mack added 15 points and four assists and junior forward Wally Judge, a transfer from Kansas State, finished with 12 points and a team-high six rebounds for Rutgers (8-2), which was playing the second of three games without coach Mike Rice who was suspended by the school on Dec. 13 and fined $50,000 for what the school called a violation of athletic department policy.

Senior guard Anton Dickerson led Howard (3-10) with 16 points, including 4-of-7 3-pointers, while forward Mike Phillips added 10 points and six rebounds.

Howard, which had to fly cross-country following a 69-53 loss at Oregon State on Wednesday night, took a 22-21 lead on a layup by center Theodore Boyomo with 7:24 left in the first half.

But Rutgers responded with an 8-0 run that included five points by Carter and turnovers on four straight possessions by the Bison to take a 29-22 lead and never trailed again. The Scarlet Knights, who shot 60 percent (33-of-55) from the floor, increased their lead to 19 points on a dunk by forward Kadeem Jack with 14:15 remaining and cruised from there.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Associate coach David Cox served as the interim coach for the Scarlet Knights. ... Rutgers G Dane Miller, who had scored in double figures in four straight games, finished with just one point but had four assists ... Rutgers finished with 13 steals and forced 17 turnovers.