Rosario scores career-high 33, Rutgers beats St. John’s 84-72 for second straight Big East win

Rosario helps Rutgers beat St. John’s 84-72

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Mike Rosario scored a career-high 33 points as Rutgers defeated St. John’s 84-72 Tuesday night.

Hamady Ndiaye had 19 points and nine blocks for Rutgers (11-11, 2-8), a school record in a Big East game. Jonathan Mitchell added 18 points for the Scarlet Knights, who have won two straight conference games for the first time in two years.

St. John’s (12-9, 2-7), which has lost four straight, got 27 points and nine rebounds from D.J. Kennedy, while Sean Evans had 11 points and Justin Burrell 10.

Rosario’s output was the most by a Scarlet Knight since Quincy Douby scored 36 at St. John’s on March 5, 2006. Rosario had 21 in the first half, when Rutgers opened its biggest lead at 15. St. John’s got within 60-54, but a 9-2 run sealed it for Rutgers.

The last time the Scarlet Knights won two straight Big East games was in January, 2008, when they beat Villanova and Pittsburgh.

(This version CORRECTS Rutgers 84, St. John’s 72. corrects date in last graph from 2006 to 2008.)