Football
Associated Press 18y

NIT Capsules

PHILADELPHIA - Abdulai Jalloh scored 18 of his 23 points in the first half to lead Saint Joseph's to a 71-62 win over Rutgers in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament on Thursday night.

It was the final game for Rutgers coach Gary Waters, who announced on March 1 that he is resigning after the season.

Waters was hired in 2001 and finished his tenure at Rutgers with a 79-75 record.

Rob Ferguson added 17 points and Pat Calathes had 12 for the Hawks (19-13), who will host Hofstra in the second round on Monday.

Hofstra defeated Nebraska 73-62 on Thursday.

Saint Joseph's advanced to the postseason for the sixth consecutive season - three NCAA Tournament berths and three trips to the NIT. The Hawks lost to South Carolina 60-57 in the championship game of the NIT last season.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Loren Stokes scored 23 points as Hofstra earned its first postseason victory in 33 years at the Division I level and extended its home winning streak to 21.

Stokes shot 11-of-20 from the field, and Antoine Agudio scored 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting for Hofstra (25-6), which lost its previous two NIT appearances in 1999 and 2005.

The Pride, whose home winning streak is second to Gonzaga's 40 in a row, will play at Saint Joseph's (19-13) in the second round Monday. The Hawks beat Rutgers 71-62 in its first-round game Thursday.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Chris Hunter scored a season-high 20 points and Dion Harris added 18 to lead Michigan to its sixth straight postseason win in the first round of the NIT Thursday.

Jason Williams had 25 points and Miguel Ayala added 10 for the Miners (21-10), who have not won consecutive postseason games since their 1992 run to the NCAA tournament's round of 16.

Michigan (19-10), the 2004 NIT champion, broke a three-game losing streak and will host Notre Dame in a second-round game Monday. The Wolverines defeated the Fighting Irish 71-67 at South Bend, Ind., on Dec. 3.

OMAHA, Neb. - Anthony Tolliver scored 18 points and Nick Porter had 15 to help Creighton beat Akron in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Pierce Hibma, who finished with 14 points, made four 3-pointers in the first half as Creighton quickly built a double-digit lead it held most of the game.

The Bluejays (20-9) will host Miami in a second-round game Monday. Akron (23-10) finished with its most wins since the school started playing Division I basketball in 1980-81.

Creighton, which had lost four of its last six games, hadn't played since losing to Bradley in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference on March 3.

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