Rutgers Hosts No. 22/19 Georgetown Saturday Afternoon
Jan 13 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (10-6, 1-3) returns to the friendly confines of the RAC, where it has an 8-1 record this season, to host No. 22/19 Georgetown (12-5, 1-4) in a 12 noon tip-off on Saturday (Jan. 15). The Hoyas, who have been ranked as high as No. 9 in both polls this season, are ranked No. 22 in the AP poll and No. 19 in the coaches poll. The contest is a "Family Four Pack" day. Fans can purchase a package in advance that includes four tickets, four hotdogs, and four sodas for only $60.00.
The game will be televised live on ESPNU with Beth Mowins calling the action and Mike Kelley offering the analysis. On the radio, the match-up will be broadcast live on the Rutgers Radio Network, WOR 710 AM in New York and WCTC 1450 AM in New Brunswick. Chris Carlin will serve as play-by-play announcer and Dick Lloyd will provide commentary. WRSU (88.7) will also broadcast the game.
Saturday afternoon's contest marks the 42nd all-time meeting between the schools on the hardwood dating back to 1922, with Georgetown holding a 25-16 advantage in victories. In BIG EAST regular season play, the Hoyas are 16-7 against RU. The Scarlet Knights have found success at home versus the Hoyas, however, winning 11 of the 19 matchups played in Piscataway. Last season, Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) scored a career-high 24 points and Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to help Rutgers to a 71-68 home victory over No. 7/8 Georgetown. The Hoyas were the second-highest-ranked opponent ever defeated by the Scarlet Knights after a 74-64 win over No. 6-ranked West Virginia on February 27, 1982.
Rutgers is coming off a 67-53 setback to No. 9/10 Connecticut Tuesday evening at the XL Center in Hartford. Freshman Mike Poole (Rosedale, N.Y.) registered his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Scarlet Knights were unable to overcome a tough shooting night that saw them make 34.5 percent (20-58) of their field goals and just 17.6 percent (3-17) from behind the arc. RU held its own in the rebounding department against the larger Huskies. Both squads grabbed 37 boards and the Scarlet Knights established a 13-10 advantage on the offensive glass.
Rutgers ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in steals (8.69), while placing fifth in the league in blocks (5.56), scoring defense (63.2) and turnover margin (+3.38). Individually, freshman forward Gilvydas Biruta (Jonava, Lithuania) is sixth in field goal percentage (.545) and James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) is sixth in steals (1.88). In the conference only stats, sophomore forward Austin Johnson (Elkins Park, Pa.) is second in field goal percentage (.722), senior guard Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) is third in assists (6.25), Miller is third in blocks (2.75), Beatty is fourth in three-point field goals made (3.00) and Biruta is fourth in field goal percentage (.643).
Georgetown, under the leadership of seventh-year head coach John Thompson III, dropped a 72-57 home decision to No. 5 Pittsburgh Wednesday night. Guard Chris Wright led the Hoyas with 14 points in the defeat. Georgetown has lost three straight and is 1-4 in BIG EAST play for the first time since 1998-99. The Hoyas lead the conference in field goal percentage (.509). Guard Austin Freeman is averaging a team-high 17.5 points per game. GAME NOTES
