PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Ricky Shields scored 21 and Herve Lamizana, playing on a gimpy right ankle, had 13 points, nine rebounds and eight blocks in Rutgers' 72-60 win over Villanova in an NIT quarterfinal Wednesday night.
Rutgers (19-12) advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1978, when it lost to Texas. The Scarlet Knights meet the winner of today's Iowa State-Marquette late game Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
Villanova (18-17), which had won four of its past five, lost in the quarterfinals for the second time in three years.
Lamizana, who twisted his right ankle in practice Tuesday and was a game-time decision, equaled his career high in blocks and added two steals. Rutgers opened a 12-point halftime lead and never let the margin get under double figures in the second half.
There were seven lead changes and three ties to start the game, with the final tie at 22. Shields, 4-for-5 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes, hit the first of his three straight 3-pointers to start the Scarlet Knights on a 17-5 run. Rutgers maintained that advantage, leading 43-21 at intermission.
Adrian Hill, who tied a career-high with 13 points, played a large part in the Knights' halftime lead, scoring eight on four dunks. Quincy Douby had 11 of his 18 points in the half on 5-for-7 shooting.
Villanova shot 2-for-7 with five turnovers over the last nine minutes of the half, and the Wildcats were just 5-for-12 from the foul line before the break.
The Wildcats' best chance in the second half came when Rutgers scored two in a span of 5:23. Villanova used a 6-0 run to get within 55-45, but Shields, who shot 7-for-9, responded with a 3-pointer and Villanova would not threaten again. The Wildcats missed nine of their next 10 shots, as Rutgers opened its biggest lead at 68-49.
Curtis Sumpter had 15 points for Villanova, Allan Ray added 14 and Jason Fraser had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
