STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- Mike Williams sank two free throws with three seconds left and Rutgers held off Stony Brook 71-66 Saturday night, scoring its last 10 points from the line.

C.J. Gettys scored on a layup and a foul shot, the three-point play coming in the midst of a 15-0 run and boosting Rutgers into the lead for good, 57-55, with just under nine minutes left. Stony Brook had opened the second half on an 8-0 clip and led until going scoreless for five minutes during Rutgers' pivotal rally.

Nigel Johnson led the Scarlet Knights (9-1) with a career-high 21 points off the bench, including 7 of 9 at the foul line. Corey Sanders added 13 points and Deshawn Freeman eight points and 12 rebounds. Issa Thiam and Gettys each scored eight points.

Akwasi Yeboah led Stony Brook with a career-high 18 points, the redshirt freshman hitting six 3-pointers including one that cut the gap to 67-66 with 2:07 left. Roland Nyama added 17 points while Lucas Woodhouse scored nine with eight assists.

Trailing 69-66 and time winding down, UC Iroegbu, eight points, missed a potential game-tying trey with six seconds left.

Williams was fouled after collaring the defensive rebound and sank the game-icing free throws. Rutgers owned a 38-27 advantage on the boards.

Iroegbu and Woodhouse opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers, prompting a Rutgers timeout just 1:10 in.

With nine wins, the Scarlet Knights have already surpassed last season's win total from a 7-25 season. Rutgers opens Big Ten play Dec. 27 at Wisconsin.

UP NEXT

Rutgers: Plays host to Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday, Dec. 14, the last of four nonconference road games.

Stony Brook: Visits Hofstra Tuesday, Dec. 13.