Rutgers Hosts DePaul Wednesday Evening at 7 p.m.
Jan 23 | Men's Basketball
Piscataway, N.J. - Rutgers (11-9, 3-4) returns to the friendly confines of the RAC to host DePaul (10-9, 1-6) Wednesday (Jan. 25) evening in a 7 p.m. tip-off. The Scarlet Knights have the opportunity to improve to 4-4 in BIG EAST play, their best conference start after eight games since 2003-04. A "Family 4-Pack" ticket promotion is available for the contest against the Blue Demons. In advance, families can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas at a discounted price of only $60.00.
The game will be televised live in the New York metro market on SNY, as well as on WFMZ-DT4 in the Philadelphia market, and via the web at WatchESPN.com with Bob Picozzi calling the action and Rob Kennedy providing the analysis. 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. WRSU (88.7 FM) will also broadcast the game.
Wednesday evening's contest marks the eighth meeting between Rutgers and DePaul on the hardwood since 2006, with the Scarlet Knights leading the series 5-2. Rutgers has won four straight in the series and is 2-1 at the RAC, including a 71-62 victory at the venue on Feb. 27, 2010. Last season, the Scarlet Knights defeated DePaul, 68-64, at Allstate Arena. Senior Jonathan Mitchell scored 18 points to pace four RU players in double figures. Rutgers committed just nine turnovers and out-rebounded the Blue Demons by a 37-32 margin.
Rutgers is coming off a hard-fought 52-50 loss at No. 10/12 Georgetown on Saturday afternoon. The Scarlet Knights were unable to overcome a foul disparity which enabled the Hoyas to attempt 29 more free throws, resulting in a 21-point differential at the line. Freshman guard Eli Carter (Paterson, N.J.) paced Rutgers in scoring for the seventh time over the last eight games with 14 points. Carter's potential game-tying runner in the lane as time expired rimmed out to seal the victory for Georgetown. Rutgers made 37.7 percent (20-53) of its field goal attempts, while limiting the Hoyas to 29.3 percent (12-41) shooting.
The Scarlet Knights rank among the top 50 nationally in steals-per-game (30th, 8.7) and field goal percentage defense (50th, 39.9).
DePaul, under the leadership of second-year head coach Oliver Purnell, is coming off a 75-58 home loss to USF Sunday afternoon. The Blue Demons shot just 33.8 percent (22-65), while the Bulls deposited 56 percent (28-50) of their field goal attempts. Sophomore forward Cleveland Melvin shot 8-of-18 to score 17 points, while also grabbing a team-best seven rebounds. Melvin, who ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in overall scoring (18.0), leads DePaul in both points and rebounding (6.2).
The Blue Demons rank among the top 50 nationally in turnover margin (13th, 4.4), steals-per-game (22nd, 8.8) and scoring offense (50th, 74.9)
