Demps Scores 24 Points In Northwestern's 98-59 Rout Of Rutgers
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Tre Demps scored 24 points, 17 in the first half, and Alex Olah added 14 points and 10 rebounds, leading Northwestern to a 98-59 win over Rutgers on Saturday.
Northwestern was 17 of 28 from 3-point range.
Jonathan Laurent scored 17 for Rutgers, which lost its 31st consecutive Big Ten game and 16th straight game overall.
Northwestern (18-11, 6-10 Big Ten) is on target to win 20 games for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
With two games left, Rutgers (6-23, 0-16) is on the verge of becoming the first Big Ten team to go winless in conference play since Northwestern went 0-16 in 1999-2000. Northwestern also went 0-18 in the Big Ten in 1990-91.
Bryant McIntosh had a career-high 13 assists and scored six points for Northwestern.
Demps and the Wildcats made quick work of the Scarlet Knights. Demps' 3 gave the 'Cats an early 19-4 lead and he extended it to 30-9 with another 3 with 9:09 left. He was 5 of 5 from 3-point range in the half.
Northwestern led 48-18 at half. Scottie Lindsey's dunk gave the Wildcats an 84-43 lead, their largest of the game.
Corey Sanders served the final game of a four-game suspension, making the Scarlet Knights huge underdogs again. Oddsmakers listed the Wildcats as 18½-point favorites. Sanders is the team's leading scorer at 18.4 points per game.
Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan got some depth back on his frontline. Centers Greg Lewis and Ibrahima Diallo both played, but they provided little. The Wildcats outrebounded the Scarlet Knights 26-8 in the first half.
TIP-INS
Rutgers: Diallo returned after injuring his foot on Dec. 18. Lewis was back after missing one game with a foot injury. ... Omari Grier finished with 11 points.
Northwestern: The Wildcats were 9 of 13 from 3-point range in the first half. ... Northwestern leads the all-time series 6-1. ... Aaron Falzon finished with 12 points on four 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
Rutgers: hosts Michigan State on Wednesday.
Northwestern: visits Penn State on Thursday.
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