Men's Hoops Hosts North Texas Wednesday Evening
Nov 21 | Men's Basketball
| Game Five: Rutgers vs. North Texas | |
| Date | Wednesday, Nov. 23 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. EST |
| Location | The RAC | Piscataway, N.J. |
| Video | BTN Plus (Lou Brogno & Dick Lloyd) |
| Radio | Rutgers IMG Sports Radio Network - WCTC 1450 AM & WOR 710 AM (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan) WRSU 88.7 FM |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | North Texas |
| Media Guide | Rutgers |
| Tickets | ScarletKnights.com/Tickets |
| Promotions | Rutgers T-Shirt Exchange |
Game Notes
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (4-0) plays its second of three straight home games when it welcomes North Texas (1-2) to the RAC Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off in the Scarlet Knight Showcase. Steve Pikiell is the first RU men's basketball coach to begin his tenure with four victories and Rutgers is 4-0 for the first time since 2000-01. The Scarlet Knights are receiving one vote in this week's Associated Press poll. Rutgers was last ranked by the AP in the final poll of 1978-79, when it concluded the season No. 18.
It's a t-shirt exchange night at the truncated pyramid. Fans who bring a t-shirt from another university, can swap it for a new Rutgers t-shirt.
Wednesday's game will be streamed live via the web on BTN Plus, with Lou Brogno calling the action and Dick Lloyd providing the analysis. On the radio, the contest will be broadcast live on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network, WOR 710 AM in New York and WCTC 1450 AM in New Brunswick. Jerry Recco will serve as play-by-play announcer and Joe Boylan will provide commentary. WRSU (88.7 FM) will also broadcast the game with Matt Salvatore and Dom Savino on the call.
The contest will mark the first meeting on the hardwood between the Scarlet Knights and Mean Green. North Texas is the third straight opponent for Rutgers with a color in its nickname, following the Blue Demons and Purple Eagles.
Rutgers established a commanding 42-3 advantage in bench points to defeat Niagara 78-65 this past Sunday afternoon at the RAC. Redshirt junior guard Nigel Johnson was 9-of-14 off the bench to post a career-high tying 20 points, while also dishing-out five assists. Junior guard Mike Williams also produced double-figures in a reserve role, adding 12 points In addition to the disparity in bench points, Rutgers out-scored the Purple Eagles 34-14 in the paint. Graduate center C.J. Gettys grabbed a game-best eight rebounds and had three blocks, while junior big man Candido Sa registered four blocks in 13 minutes.
Rutgers limited Niagara to 30.5 percent (18-of-59) shooting, the lowest field goal percentage for an opponent this season. The Scarlet Knights have held all four foes under 39 percent from the field.
The Scarlet Knights are among the national leaders in several categories, including offensive rebounding (5th, 18.25) rebounding margin (7th, 18.5), and total rebounds (9th, 48.5). Williams is tied for the national lead with a perfect (11-of-11) free throw percentage, while redshirt junior captain Deshawn Freeman is tied for 10th with a pair of double-doubles.
North Texas, under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Tony Benford, suffered an 83-62 home loss to Drexel on Sunday. The Dragons, who led 40-21 at halftime, shot 54.2 percent (32-of-59) and out-rebounded the Mean Green 35-25. Senior guard Deckie Johnson averages 14.0 points-per-game to lead North Texas in scoring (14.0), including a 23-for-26 mark from the free throw line (88.5 percent). He was held to six points on 1-of-7 shooting by Drexel. UNT was predicted to finish 10th in the 14-team Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll, as junior forward Jeremy Combs earned preseason all-league honors after posting 14 double-doubles in 2015-16.
For tickets to Wednesday's game, please click here or call the ticket office at 1-866-445-GORU (4678).
