Rutgers 88, Sacred Heart 62: Eli Carter scored 18 points and Wally Judge posted his second consecutive double-double as the Scarlet Knights trounced the visiting Pioneers for the second consecutive year.

Judge – a transfer from Kansas State – finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Rutgers (1-1), which handed Sacred Heart a 16-point loss in their only other meeting a season ago.

The Scarlet Knights, coming off a surprising season-opening loss to St. Peter’s, shot 54.4 percent from the field and committed only seven turnovers as they pulled away midway through the first half Monday.

Rutgers fell behind 11-6 before Carter scored five points during a 17-0 run that ended any chance of another disappointing setback. The Scarlet Knights’ stifling defense took center stage during the surge as the Pioneers (1-1) shot only 27 percent in the first half.

Louis Montes led Sacred Heart with 13 points.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rutgers is 42-3 all-time against opponents from the Northeast Conference. … Sacred Heart missed all nine of its first-half 3-point attempts. … For the season, the Scarlet Knights have hit only five of their 27 attempts beyond the arc.