Freshman Eli Carter scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half - including four 3-pointers - as Rutgers held off visiting Cincinnati 61-54 on Saturday.

Rutgers (12-10, 4-5 Big East) led by three before going on a 7-0 run, capped by a Carter 3-pointer, to take a 52-42 lead with 4:39 remaining. Cincinnati crept back within four, but could not get closer.

Dane Miller recorded 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for Rutgers and Myles Mack chipped in with 10 points.

The Scarlet Knights, who snapped a five-game losing streak against Cincinnati, were 5 for 8 from 3-point range in the second half after missing all six attempts in the first half.

Dion Dixon registered 17 points and Yancy Gates added 16 for Cincinnati (15-7, 5-4), which has lost three straight. The Bearcats scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 30-27 lead, but Rutgers responded with a 9-0 run and never trailed again.

Rutgers led by as many as eight in the opening 20 minutes, but settled for a 27-23 halftime advantage. The Scarlet Knights held Cincinnati to 30 percent shooting and scored 20 points in the paint in the first half, led by Miller’s four points and nine rebounds.