PISCATAWAY – Rutgers (9-3) will work to improve to 18-1 in non-conference home games under Steve Pikiell when it welcomes No. 15 Seton Hall (9-1) to the RAC on Saturday for the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic. The home arenas for the schools, dubbed the "RAC" and the "Rock," are separated by a 27-mile drive. The sold out rivalry match-up signals the first capacity crowd at the RAC since Ohio State on Feb. 8, 2015 and the first against the Pirates since Feb. 12, 2011. RU has the opportunity to defeat a ranked foe for the first time since downing No. 4 Wisconsin 67-62 on Jan. 11, 2015. RU also has the chance to beat a ranked SHU squad for a 2nd time after a 70-64 road victory over the No. 22 Pirates on Feb. 4, 2001.

It will be "Operation Scarlet" on Saturday, with all fans encouraged to wear scarlet to the game. Scarlet glow sticks will be distributed to those seated in the lower bowl seats and students will receive rally towels. One Rutgers student will have the opportunity to win $25,000 by making a half-court shot during a second half media timeout. Drums of Thunder will perform at halftime.

Rutgers leads the nation in rebounding (45.67) and offensive rebounding (15.92), while placing fourth among all D-I programs in both scoring defense (57.8) and field goal percentage defense (35.9). The Scarlet Knights are first or second in the Big Ten in eight stat categories.

Saturday's game will be televised live on BTN, with Kevin Kugler calling the action and Jon Crispin 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, as well as on Sirius/XM 83. Jerry Recco 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 68 times on the collegiate hardwood dating to 1916, with Seton Hall holding a 39-29 advantage in victories, including four straight. The Pirates won the last three match-ups by double digits, but 18 of the 20 prior meetings were decided by six points or less or in overtime. The teams have played 55 times since 1974-75 and have met every season since 1995-96. Rutgers is 16-17 all-time at home versus the Pirates.

The #GSHClassic Trophy will be presented post-game. The perpetual rivalry trophy is constructed primarily from recycled Asbury Park boardwalk planks, which were retrieved during a re-decking after Superstorm Sandy. The Joe Calabrese Award will also be bestowed to the contest's most valuable player.

The Rutgers and Seton Hall Army ROTC programs will run the game ball from South Orange to the RAC on gameday with the help of state police. The run will unfold as a relay, with groups of four (two cadets from each school) traveling four miles each. All 20 cadets will participate in the final 1.6 miles. The game ball will be delivered beforehand to Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs, who has served in leadership roles at both schools and was instrumental in the hiring of each head coach.

Corey Sanders became the 42nd player in RU men's basketball history to reach 1,000 points, scoring 12 on 5-of-8 shooting, to help Rutgers to a 75-63 win over Fordham Tuesday evening at the RAC. Six players scored in double figures for the Scarlet Knights. Sanders achieved the millennium mark via a short-range floater with 35 seconds remaining in the first half. He was joined in double figures by Deshawn Freeman, Geo Baker, Issa Thiam, Candido Sa and Mike Williams. Freeman had 14 points and 10 rebounds to register his 14th career double-double, while Baker scored 12 points, Thiam 11, and both Sa and Williams added 10. It marked the first time RU had six players in double-figures since an 87-66 win against Drexel on Nov. 13, 2016.

Williams enters Saturday's Garden State Hardwood Classic with 989 career points.

Under eighth-year head coach Kevin Willard, Seton Hall has won five straight and has achieved its highest national ranking since 2001. Four SHU players average double figures in scoring, led by Desi Rodriguez (19.4). Angel Delgado is the NCAA active career leader in double-doubles with 57.

Single game tickets for the other 11 remaining men's basketball home games are available online or by calling the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase flex ticket plans or a "Pikiell's Presents" package. Flex ticket plans enable fans to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package. "Pikiell's Presents" includes two section 110 tickets to the games versus Stony Brook (Dec. 22) and Hartford (Dec. 28), along with two food vouchers per game and ugly holiday sweater t-shirts.

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