Piscataway, N.J. - Seniors JR Inman (Pomona, N.Y.), Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.) and Jaron Griffin (Manchester, N.J.) combined to score 28 points in their final game on the RAC hardwood to lead Rutgers (11-20, 2-16) to a 45-42 win over USF (9-21, 4-14) Saturday afternoon. Inman registered his 10th career double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds), while Farmer added 10 points and Griffin eight, to send the Scarlet Knights into next week’s BIG EAST Championship on a positive note.

Anthony Farmer finished with 10 points, his 12th double digit scoring game this season. PHOTO GALLERY

""We've had some wins here, but this is probably the most memorable since it's my last one,'' Inman said. ""I knew that we could do it all along if we played together for 40 minutes.”

Rutgers never trailed in the contest and jumped-out to a 17-9 lead. The Bulls battled back, however, and reduced its deficit to a single point with under a minute to play before the break. A Hamady Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) jumper with just two second to go before halftime provided the home squad a 26-23 lead and sent it into the locker room with momentum.

After the midpoint, the Scarlet Knights developed 43-34 advantage with 8:40 to play, as both squads struggled to find their shots. The Bulls answered an 8-0 run to get within a single digit, before Earl Pettis (Philadelphia, Pa.) made a tip-in with 13.1 seconds remaining. USF had a chance tie to on the final possession, but a three-pointer was off the mark.

Rutgers limited USF to 29.8 percent (14-47) shooting, the lowest field goal percentage for a BIG EAST opponent against the Scarlet Knights this season. Bulls sophomore guard Dominique Jones, who entered the contest averaging 18.5 points-per-game, was held to 11 points on 5-19 shooting. It tied for Jones’ lowest scoring output in a BIG EAST game this season.

“When you're going through something tough, you go with experience,” said Rutgers head coach Fred Hill. “I knew on the defensive end I was very confident with those guys (the seniors) on the floor, and that's what won the game for us.''

Freshman forward Gregory Echenique (Guatire, Venezuela) turned in another stellar performance, grabbing 11 rebounds, issuing for blocks and scoring seven points for RU. Seven of his blocks and three of his rejections came in the second half. Rutgers established a 39-34 rebounding advantage and out-scored the visitors in the paint.

The Scarlet Knights are the No. 15 seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Championship and will play No. 10 seed Notre Dame Tuesday evening (March 10) in a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at Madison Square Garden.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Rutgers snapped an eight game losing streak with the victory and improved its all-time record against USF to 5-3.
• The Scarlet Knights never trailed in the game. The contest had five ties.
• Rutgers is the No. 15 seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Championship and will play No. 10 seed Notre Dame Tuesday evening (March 10) at 7:00 p.m.
• JR Inman grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 10 points to register his 10th career double-double and his first of the season. It marked Inman’s first double-double since a 16 point, 10 rebound performance versus Manhattan last season (12/29/07). Inman now has scored in double figures 58 times in his career and had 10 or more rebounds in a contest 13 times in his career. His team-best 12 rebounds signaled the 38th time in his career that he paced Rutgers in rebounding.
• Inman’s 10 points increased his career total to 1,058, moving him past Damon Santiago (1,056; 1991-96) for 32nd place on the RU all-time scoring chart. Inman also had one block to give him 104 for his career, moving him past Sean Axani (2000-04; 103) for eighth place on the all-time RU blocks chart.
• Inman played a season-high 35 minutes, his most minutes since also playing 35 at Marquette last season (2/23/08).
• Anthony Farmer scored 10 points, his 12th double digit scoring game this season and the 49th of his career.
• The contest marked the final home contest for Jaron Griffin, Inman and Farmer. The trio has combined to play in 352 games and score 2,838 points. Prior to the game they were recognized in a pre-game ceremony, along with senior managers Chris Ayoob, Nick Nichay and Dan Kaiserman.
• Gregory Echenique grabbed 11 rebounds and issued four blocks.  It marked his ninth game this season with 10 or more boards and 14th contest with three or more blocked shots.
• Rutgers held USF sophomore guard Dominique Jones to 11 points on 5-19 shooting. It tied for Jones’ lowest scoring output in a BIG EAST game this season.
• Rutgers limited USF to 29.8 percent (14-47) shooting, the lowest field goal percentage for a BIG EAST opponent against the Scarlet Knights this season.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach Fred Hill on the performance of his three seniors (Anthony Farmer, Jaron Griffin, JR Inman):

“We have been talking for a while actually, about how they (the seniors) came here four years ago and tried to change the culture and the attitude of the program. In doing that, they have laid the foundation for everything that is going to happen in the future.”

“It is great when you pour your heart and soul into something and you come out every day and work hard to come out with a win. For them to step up and lay everything on the line, and to have their teammates do the same for them, that’s the best way that you can go out.”

On sticking with the three seniors, plus freshman Gregory Echenique and sophomore Earl Pettis as a unit down the stretch:

“When you are going through something tough, you go with experience. Veterans win for you. Leadership wins for you. I was very confident with those guys on the floor on the defensive end and that is what won us the game. We were very solid defensively today. We were able to hold them to 29 percent shooting and we shut down Dominique Jones, who is one of the best players in the conference. I will be shocked if he doesn’t make an all-conference team and we held him to 5 of 19 and 0 for 6 from three-point range.”

On playing Notre Dame Tuesday in the first-round of the BIG EAST Tournament:

“It’s another opportunity to go out and play. We talk about the fine line between winning and losing. We have competed and I’m so proud of these guys. We defend, we play with energy, and that’s hard to do when you’re not getting breaks and getting wins.”

Senior forward JR Inman on the Scarlet Knights finishing the game strong:

“This game reminded me of the game last year against South Florida. The only difference was last year we did not come out on top. For us to win this game and show our poise down the stretch really demonstrates the growth that we as seniors and the ballclub as a whole have undergone. I’m not sure we would have come out on top last year.”

Senior forward Jaron Griffin on the victory:
“It is great because this is what people are going to remember about us, winning our last game.

Senior guard Anthony Farmer on the victory:
“I’m speechless. We were fortunate to get a win today, which is great for this program. The fans have been behind us since we’ve been here. It is another step forward for the program and for us to leave on a good note.”

Farmer on the way the guards defended Dominique Jones:
“You want to talk about Rutgers, that’s what we do. We are tough, we get down and defend people.”