Jack leads Rutgers over South Florida 79-69

Feb 8, 2014, 10:39 pm

TAMPA, Fla. -- Kadeem Jack scored a career-high 31 points, leading Rutgers to a 79-69 victory against South Florida on Saturday night.

Myles Mack added 15 points and Wally Judge had 10 to help Rutgers (10-14, 4-7 American Athletic Conference) win for the first time in eight road games. Judge blocked two shots and had eight rebounds for the Scarlet Knights, who outrebounded the Bulls 37-30.

Martino Brock tied a season high with 17 points to lead South Florida (12-12, 3-8). Victor Rudd added 15 points, Chris Perry 11 and John Egbunu 10 for the Bulls, who made 17 of 20 free throws for 85 percent.

Jack hit all 13 of his free-throw attempts and was 9 of 14 from the field. Rutgers made 21 of 26 free throws for 80.8 percent.

Jack scored seven of his 15 first-half points during a 13-0 run to help the Scarlet Knights build a 15-2 advantage. By the intermission, Brock had 13 and the Bulls trailed only 36-35.

South Florida took the lead with the first six points of the second half, but Rutgers answered with the next 12. The Scarlet Knights later put up 11 in a row to pull away, helped by 2-of-11 shooting by the Bulls from beyond the arc.

The teams came in tied with idle Houston for the sixth and final position eligible for a first-round bye in the AAC postseason tournament.