Rutgers roundup

Rutgers freshman guard Mike Coburn has been named the BIG EAST ConferenceMen's Basketball Rookie of the Week for his play in wins over No. 18 Villanova and No. 13 Pittsburgh. Coburn averaged 20.0 points and 4.0 assists in the victories, as RU defeated ranked teams back-to-back for the second time in program history.

Coburn posted a career high 23 points to lead RU to an 80-68 defeat of the Wildcats before the home crowd Wednesday night. He was eight of 13 from the field and a perfect 2-2 from behind the arc, while grabbing four rebounds. It marked the first victory over a ranked opponent for RU since a 65-56 home defeat of No. 22 Louisville on Jan. 28, 2006.

At Pittsburgh Saturday evening, Coburn scored 17 points on five on nine shooting, including a perfect three of three from long range, to help lead Rutgers to a 77-64 win at the hostile Peterson Events Center. He also had five assists. The victory marked the highest ranked foe that RU has ever defeated on the road in program history and snapped UP's 13-game home winning streak.

Coburn has played in all 21 games,making 11 starts this season.He is averaging 7.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 25.5 minutes, while leading the teamwith 49 assists. In the eightBIGEAST games, he is averaging 10.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 33.6 minutes, while shooting 52.9 percent (9-17) fromthree point range and 78.3 percent (18-23) fromthe free throw line.

The last Scarlet Knight to garner BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors was JR Inman, who captured the accolade on Jan. 30, 2006.Anthony Farmer also earned the award as a freshman, as both were later named to the 2005-06 BIG EAST All- Rookie Team.

Rutgers (10-11, 2-6) returned to the hardwood to face rival Seton Hall at the RAC last evening. Their next contest is Saturday at Louisville. The game will be broadcast on the MSG network at 3 p.m.

Rutgers wrestling, under the guidance of first-year head coach Scott Goodale, defeated non-conference opponents Boston University 22-19 and then Delaware State 42-9 to go 2-0 and win the tri-meet, held Saturday in Boston, Mass. Rutgers (8-5, 4-2) won its fourth consecutive match and seventh in its last eight matches. BU (5-6) defeated Delaware State (0-8-1) 42-0 to take second place in the tri-meet at 1-1.

BU opened the dual with three straight wins, as Dan Hilt lost 6-3 at 133, Paul Grogan was pinned at 4:03 in the 141-pound bout and JackBarrett fell 8-4 at 149-pounds. But Rutgers fought back, winning four consecutive bouts to take a 16-12 lead. Norrell earned a 16-7major decision at 157-pounds, Matt Pletcher shut out A.J. Detwiler 7-0 at 165-pounds,MikeWhalen earned a 4-2 decision at 174-pounds and Dobish pinned Eli Vidal at 1:02.

Junior Lamar Brown fell 9-6 in a hard fought contest at 197-pounds, giving BU three team points to make the score 16-15. At 285, DJ Russo fell 15-3, giving the Terriers a 19-16 lead, but they had to forfeit the 125-pound match to give Rutgers the 22-19 victory.

Against Delaware State, Rutgers won eight of the 10matches, asHilt and Pletcher pinned their respective opponents, Grogan, Barrett, Dan Pedone andMike DeMarco all won by forfeit and Michael Cucinotta and Brown each earned decisions.Whalen fell 7- 2 and Russo was pinned at 2:17 tomake the final score 42-9 in favor of the Scarlet Knights.

RU returns to the mat on Saturday when it faces Clarion and Rider in Lawrenceville, N.J., starting at 3:30 p.m.