Men’s Hoops Hosts FSU Tuesday in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Tuesday, November 28

Piscataway, NJ

7 p.m.

Rutgers University

Florida State (Big Ten/ACC)

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Photo by: Rich Graessle

Men’s Hoops Hosts FSU Tuesday in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Nov 25 | Men's Basketball

Rutgers Game Notes Florida State Note Package Live Stats

PISCATAWAY – Rutgers will work to improve to 15-0 in non-conference home games under Steve Pikiell and provide him the best start of his head coaching career when it welcomes ACC-member Florida State on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. It will be Cyber Monday Knight on Tuesday and the first 500 fans will receive an "Ugly Sweater." For Rutgers students, there will be a Cyber Monday shopping package raffle and the opportunity to win $10,000 via a half-court shot. Red Panda will perform at halftime.

Tuesday's game is being played at the beginning of ESPN's 12th annual Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research. On April 29, the basketball court at the historic College Ave Gym, affectionately referred to as "The Barn," was officially dedicated in honor of the former Rutgers co-captain and hall of famer. Valvano's Rutgers teammates, his daughter Lee Ann, grandchildren and the current Scarlet Knights' basketball team were among the many attendees. Valvano competed on the court and began his career as the freshman coach upon it.

Rutgers is fifth or better in eight NCAA stats categories: scoring defense (1st), win-loss % (t-1st), FG% defense (2nd), personal fouls per game (2nd), total rebounds per game (3rd), total rebounds (4th), rebound margin (5th) and offensive rebounds per game (5th). The Scarlet Knights lead the Big Ten in 11 categories: scoring defense, won-lost %, FG% defense, personal fouls per game, total rebounds per game, total rebounds, offensive rebounds per game, scoring margin, defensive rebounds per game, 3-point FG% defense & fewest fouls.

The Scarlet Knights are 1-2 in the Challenge and 0-1 at home after dropping a 69-68 decision to Wake Forest on Nov. 30, 2015. Last season, RU fell 73-61 at Miami. It will mark the second meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Seminoles, with FSU winning the first match-up, 87-77, in Tallahassee on Dec. 22, 1967.

Deshawn Freeman had a double-double and Shaquille Doorson came off the bench to provide career-highs in both points (8) and rebounds (9) to help Rutgers to a 61-47 victory over East Carolina Friday afternoon at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights grabbed 19 offensive rebounds. Freeman, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds to earn his 11th career double-double, was the only Scarlet Knight in double figures. The last time Rutgers won by double-digits while having only one player score in double-figures was a 69-55 victory over Robert Morris on Nov. 21, 2008.

Under the leadership of 16th-year head coach Leonard Hamilton, FSU has advanced to the postseason 12 of 15 seasons. Tuesday's contest will mark the first true road game for the Seminoles, who are coming off a 113-78 home win over The Citadel. Four players have double-digit scoring averages, including Terance Mann with a team-best 17.0 points-per-game. FSU is 11th nationally in FG% (52.9).

Single game tickets are available online or by calling the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans also have the opportunity flex ticket plans, which enable them to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package. Flex ticket plans are $140 for 200 level center tickets, $120 for 200 level wing tickets, and $60 for 300 level tickets.

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