NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Freshman Corey Chandler scored 15 points in a return to his hometown and JR Inman added 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead Rutgers to a tougher than expected 65-55 victory over winless New Jersey Institute of Technology Thursday night at the Prudential Center.

Chandler, a former Newark East Side High School standout who grew up just three blocks from the new arena, was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

With the victory, Rutgers improved to 7-3 overall. The Scarlet Knights will face top-ranked North Carolina at the Rutgers Athletic Center on Sunday night.

NJIT (0-13) got 21 points and 11 rebounds from Kraig Peters.

Rutgers won despite shooting just 33 percent from the floor (18-of-54) and going six minutes in the second half without a field goal. But the Scarlet Knights dominated at the free throw line, connecting on 25-of-34 attempts.

NJIT tied the game at 36-36 with 13:34 left on a Peters jumper, but Rutgers took control of the game, scoring the next five points, eventually going on a 9-2 run. Chandler made four free throws in the run and Hamady Ndiaye had all four of his points, giving the Scarlet Knights a 45-38 lead with 9:41 left.