MBB Hosts SHU Saturday in Garden State Hardwood Classic
Dec 03 | Men's Basketball
| Rutgers vs. Seton Hall - Garden State Hardwood Classic | |
| Date | Saturday, December 5 |
| Time | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Location | Piscataway, N.J. | The RAC |
| Television | ESPNews |
| Radio | Rutgers IMG Radio Network - WOR (710) and WCTC (1450AM) |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Seton Hall |
| Live Stats | |
| Team Info | Online Media Guide |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Seton Hall | Big Ten Conference |
| Social Media | @RutgersMBB  | #RHoops | #GSHClassic | Facebook/RutgersMBB  |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (3-4) plays its second of three consecutive home games when it welcomes rival Seton Hall (5-2) on Saturday at 12 noon for the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic. The home arenas for the schools, dubbed the "RAC" and the "Rock," are separated by an approximate 27-mile drive. This year's contest is the third in an eight-year agreement to continue the series at alternating home sites through 2020. At halftime, the 1966-67 team that posted a 22-7 record and advanced to the semifinal of the NIT with a backcourt that featured co-captains Bob Lloyd and Jim Valvano, will be recognized. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive 1967 commemorative t-shirts. The winner of Saturday's game will be awarded the #GSHClassic Trophy. The trophy, as well as the Joe Calabrese Game Most Valuable Player Award, will be presented post-game.
On Friday evening, the Rutgers University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and The V Foundation will team up to honor the 1966-67 team at a dinner at the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick with all net proceeds going to The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Saturday afternoon's game will be televised live on ESPNews, with Mike Corey calling the action and Craig Robinson providing the analysis. On the radio, the contest will be broadcast live on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network, WOR 710 AM in New York & WCTC 1450 AM in New Brunswick, as well as on Sirius 132 and XM 196. Chris Carlin will serve as play-by-play announcer and Joe Boylan will provide commentary. WRSU (88.7 FM) will also broadcast the game.
Rutgers and Seton Hall have met 66 times meeting on the collegiate hardwood dating to 1916, with Seton Hall holding a 37-29 advantage in victories. Seventeen of the last 20 meetings have been decided by six points or less or in overtime. The teams have played 52 times since 1974-75 and have met every season since 1995-96. Rutgers is 16-16 all-time at home versus the Pirates. Eddie Jordan competed in the series as a player and helped RU to a 2-1 mark in those contests.
Despite 17 points from freshman guard Corey Sanders and two additional players in double figures, Rutgers fell to Wake Forest, 69-68, in the Big Ten - ACC Challenge Monday night at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights led by as much as 12 points and forced 18 turnovers in the hard-fought defeat. Sanders produced 13 of his team-high 17 points in the second half, while senior center Greg Lewis added 11 points and nine rebounds. Freshman wing Jonathan Laurent had 10 points and seven boards.
Seton Hall, under the leadership of sixth-year head coach Kevin Willard, dropped a 72-64 decision at George Washington Wednesday evening. Sophomore Khadeen Carrington, a high school teammate of RU guard Mike Williams, scored a career-high 21 points, but GW shot 48 percent and made nearly 80 percent of its free throws. The defeat snapped a three-game winning streak for the Pirates.
