Men's Hoops Hosts Hartford in Friday Matinee
Nov 24 | Men's Basketball
| Game Six: Rutgers vs. Hartford | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 25 |
| Time | 1:00 p.m. EST |
| Location | The RAC | Piscataway, N.J. |
| Video | ESPN3 (Michael Watts & Rob Kennedy) |
| 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 | Hartford |
| Media Guide | Rutgers |
| Tickets | ScarletKnights.com/Tickets |
| Promotions | Free Beanie Hats to First 500 |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (5-0) plays its third of three consecutive home games when it welcomes Hartford (1-4) to the RAC on Friday for a 1 p.m. tip-off in RU's final contest of the Scarlet Knight Showcase. After a 7 p.m. start on Wednesday, the 42-hour turnaround from tip-to-tip is the quickest this season. Rutgers is 5-0 for the first time since 2000-01 and will be working to become the first RU team to start 6-0 since the 1975-76 Final Four squad. 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.
The Scarlet Knights presently lead the nation in offensive rebounding (18.8) after concluding the 2015-16 campaign tied for 249th in the category. RU is also fourth (49.4) in overall rebounding and 16th in blocks (16.6).
The first 500 fans in attendance on Friday will receive free Rutgers beanie hats.
Friday's game will be streamed live via the web on ESPN3, with Michael Watts calling the action and Rob Kennedy 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.
The contest will mark the second meeting on the hardwood between the Scarlet Knights and Hawks. RU defeated UH 63-53 at the RAC on Dec. 13, 2001 behind 18 points from Jerome Coleman. The Hawks are a familiar foe for Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. Over the last 11 seasons at Stony Brook in the America East Conference, he had a 16-8 record against UH, but won 16 of the past 17 meetings, including eight straight.
Redshirt junior forward Deshawn Freeman had his third double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, to help Rutgers to a 66-53 win over North Texas Wednesday evening at the RAC. After trailing at the break, RU out-rebounded the visitors 26-11 in the second half en route to a decisive 53-28 advantage on the boards. Rutgers limited North Texas to a 33.3 percent (19-of-57) field goal percentage. It signaled the second lowest shooting mark for an opponent this season, all of which have been held under 40 percent.
Freeman was joined in double figures by junior guards Nigel Johnson and Mike Williams, who both contributed 10 points of the bench. The guards have each scored in double figures in four games this season in reserve roles.
Hartford, under the leadership of seventh-year head coach John Gallagher, suffered a 70-61 home loss to Appalachian State this past Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks were out-scored 38-14 in the paint and were victimized by a 29-9 discrepancy in bench points. Jason Dunne, a Matawan, N.J. native, had a double-double for UH with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Hartford has received 84.3 percent of its scoring from starters. All five played at least 26 minutes versus ASU. Friday's contest is the second of three games in a 96-hour span for the Hawks, who are looking to snap a three-game skid.
For tickets to Friday's game, please click here or call the ticket office at 1-866-445-GORU (4678).
