Men's Hoops Host Wildcats Thursday Evening
Jan 10 | Men's Basketball
| Rutgers vs. Northwestern | |
| Date | Thursday, January 12 |
| Time | 9 p.m. |
| Location | The RAC | Piscataway, N.J. |
| Video | ESPNU (Kevin Brown and Dalen Cuff) |
| Radio | Rutgers IMG Sports Radio Network - WCTC 1450 AM & WOR 710 AM WRSU (88.7 FM) |
| Tickets | Buy Tickets |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Northwestern | Big Ten |
| Media Guide | Rutgers |
| Promotions | Rutgers T-Shirt Exchange |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - After playing five of its last six games away from the RAC, Rutgers (11-6, 0-4) returns home to host Northwestern (13-4, 2-2) on Thursday in a 9 p.m. tip-off. It marks the latest start for the Scarlet Knights this season. RU will be working to snap a five-game skid and improve to 9-1 at home. The Wildcats have received votes in the polls this season and will be seeking their second straight victory.
It's a t-shirt exchange night at the RAC. Fans who bring a t-shirt from another university, can swap it for a new Rutgers t-shirt.
Rutgers is fifth nationally in rebounds-per-game (42.76), 13th in rebound margin (+8.8) and 25th in field goal percentage defense (39.0). Northwestern ranks eighth in assist-turnover ratio (1.61), 10th in blocks (6.0) and 17th in turnovers (10.8).
Thursday's game will be televised live on ESPNU, with Kevin Brown calling the action and Dalen Cuff 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 135 and XM 195. 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 game will mark the eighth meeting on the collegiate hardwood between RU and Northwestern dating back to 1969, with the Wildcats holding a 6-1 advantage in victories. Last season, Rutgers dropped at 98-59 decision at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Jonathan Laurent posted 17 points, with 11 coming at the charity stripe, to pace the Scarlet Knights in the scoring column. RU is 0-2 at the RAC versus NU, dropping a 51-47 decision in its inaugural Big Ten Conference game on Dec. 30, 2014. Three of the six match-ups have been played at neutral sites.
Rutgers built a nine-point second half lead, but was unable to hold off Iowa in a 68-62 loss at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday. Deshawn Freeman posted his seventh double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The Scarlet Knights out-rebounded Iowa 44-36 and established a 40-26 advantage in points in the paint. RU suffered from a disparity at the charity stripe, however, making 2-of-4, while the Hawkeyes deposited 16-of-23 free throw attempts.
Northwestern, under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Chris Collins, shot 51 percent (25-of-49) and made 11 three-pointers in a 74-66 win at Nebraska on Sunday. Scottie Lindsey (19), Vic Law (15), Derek Pardon (13) and Bryant McIntosh (11) all scored in double figures for the Wildcats. Lindsey averages a team-best 15.6 points-per-game. Northwestern is in the midst of playing four of its first five conference games on the road for the first time since the 1955-56 season.
