Rutgers Set to Battle the Bearcats Wednesday Evening in Cincinnati
Jan 24 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (12-7, 3-4) travels to the Queen City to meet BIG EAST foe Cincinnati (17-3, 4-3) in a 9 p.m. tip-off Wednesday evening at 13,176-seat Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats, who were ranked No. 25 last week, are receiving votes in both polls. The Scarlet Knights will be preparing to win three consecutive BIG EAST regular season games for the first time since 2003-04. After a victory at Seton Hall this past Saturday afternoon, Rutgers will also be working to win back-to-back BIG EAST road games for the first time since the 2000 season, when RU defeated Boston College and Providence on their home courts.
The contest will be televised live in the New York Market on SNY and in the Philadelphia market on The Comcast Network with Justin Kutcher calling the action and Mark Adams offering the analysis. The game will also be available live on the web (subject to blackout) via ESPN3.com. On the radio, the contest 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.
Wednesday evening's contest marks the 15th overall match-up between the schools dating back to 1972, with Cincinnati holding an 11-3 advantage in victories, including a 4-2 mark in BIG EAST regular season play. Rutgers is 1-5 on the Bearcats' home floor. Last season, UC defeated RU 65-58 at the RAC during the regular season before prevailing 69-68 in the opening round of the Big EAST Championship. Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the league tourney defeat. Cincinnati has won four straight in the series. The Scarlet Knights last win over UC was a 73-69 decision at the RAC on Feb. 10, 2007.
Rutgers is coming off a 66-60 win at rival Seton Hall at the Prudential Center. Sophomore wing Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) and freshman forward Gilvydas Biruta (Jonava, Lithuania) both had double-doubles. Miller had 17 points with 10 rebounds, while Biruta posted 12 points and 11 boards, as the Scarlet Knights led for over 36 of the contest's 40 minutes. Miller, who played tenacious defense on Seton Hall's Jeremy Hazell, shot seven-of-13 with three blocks. His performance was supplemented by Mitchell, who shot five-of-eight to score 14 points with nine rebounds. The Scarlet Knights made 47.2 percent (25-53) of their field goal attempts, while limiting SHU to 33.8 percent (23-68) shooting. RU also outrebounded the larger Pirates by a 44-38 margin.
Rutgers ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage defense (.391), steals (8.42) and blocks (5.58), while placing fifth in turnover margin (+3.26) and scoring defense (63.5). Individually, Biruta is fourth in field goal percentage (.545), tops among all league freshmen. In the conference only stats, senior point guard James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) is tied for second in three-point field goals made (3.0) and Miller is third in blocks (2.71).
Cincinnati, under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Mick Cronin, captured a 53-51 victory at Saint John's on Saturday at Carnesecca Arena. Forward Yancy Gates scored on a three-point play with eight seconds left in the win. He finished with a game-high 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds. The Bearcats, who lead the BIG EAST in scoring defense (56.5), outrebounded the Red Storm 39-25. GAME NOTES
