PRESEASON NIT : Seton Hall Finds Range to Win, 75-54

A few missed shots didn’t faze John Leahy.

Leahy, who missed all three three-pointers he tried in the first half, made two in a row to start a 25-6 run that carried sixth-ranked Seton Hall to a 75-54 victory over Delaware on Thursday night in a first-round game of the preseason NIT at East Rutherford, N.J.

“At halftime we said we wanted to start pounding the ball inside, but I was so wide open I felt I had to take those shots,� Leahy said. “I was really happy to hit them because I think it gave our team a big lift. Once I hit them it became a lot easier to get the ball inside.�

Seton Hall will play Tennessee in the second round at the Meadowlands Arena.

Terry Dehere scored 25 points for Seton Hall.

Delaware’s Anthony Wright had 14 points and 16 rebounds, and Spencer Dunkley added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Tennessee 87, Rutgers 79--Allan Houston made seven three-pointers and scored 27 points as the Volunteers beat the Scarlet Knights at Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers, which led by 13 points early before Tennessee regained control, fought back to tie the score, 63-63, on a basket by Steve Worthy with 8:23 to play.

Then Houston took over. He scored on a driving layup to break the tie and passed to Lang Wiseman for another layup. Wiseman added a free throw a minute later and Houston made a three-pointer to cap an 8-0 run and make it 71-63 with 5:35 left.

Corey Allen and Wiseman each added 21 for Tennessee.

Mike Jones had 19 and Worthy scored 15 for Rutgers.

Jones scored the first 12 points for Rutgers and helped the Scarlet Knights open a 19-6 lead seven minutes into the game.