PISCATAWAY - Rutgers (10-5, 0-2) will work to earn its second straight victory over a ranked foe and capture its first ranked road victory since downing No. 13 Pittsburgh, 77-64 on Jan. 26, 2008, when it meets No. 13 Purdue (13-2, 2-0) in a 7 p.m. ET tip-off Wednesday at 14,804-seat Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers are the third ranked foe that the Scarlet Knights will meet in as many league games, after contests at No. 12 Minnesota (Dec. 3) and versus No. 3 Michigan State (Dec. 5). It marks the third time that RU will open conference play against three ranked opponents, after also completing the trifecta in 2008-09 and 2001-02 as a Big East member.

Rutgers is second nationally in offensive rebounding (15.93) and third in overall rebounding (44.60), while placing fourth in scoring defense (59.5) and seventh in FG% defense (36.9). The Scarlet Knights are among the top three in the Big Ten in 11 stat categories.

The game will be televised live on BTN with Brandon Gaudin calling the action and Stephen Bardo providing the commentary. 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 signals the 10th match-up between RU and Purdue dating back to 1953, with the Boilermakers holding an 8-1 advantage, including six straight victories. RU is 0-5 on the road in the series, including a 74-55 loss at Mackey on Feb. 14, 2017 in the last meeting. Rutgers defeated Purdue 81-73 at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 4, 1975 during its 31-0 start en route to the Final Four.

Trailing by one point with possession and the shot clock turned off, Rutgers had the opportunity for victory, but was unable to convert in a 60-58 loss to Hartford Thursday at the RAC. RU attempted 12 more field goals than UH, but struggled at the charity stripe to suffer back-to-back non-conference losses for the first time under Steve Pikiell. Rutgers entered the contest leading the nation in rebounding, but was out-done 39-34 on the glass. Three players scored in double digits for Rutgers. Corey Sanders posted 17 points off the bench, while Mike Williams added 13 in a reserve role and Deshawn Freeman scored 10. The output from Sanders and Williams enabled a 33-4 advantage in bench points for the home squad.

Freeman is 2nd in the Big Ten in rebounding (8.7), and third in both offensive rebounding (3.14) and double-doubles (5). Geo Baker leads all Big Ten freshmen in scoring (11.9), assists (3.9) and minutes (32.4) and is third among league rookies in steals (1.3). Baker is sixth among all major conference freshmen in minutes-per-game.

Purdue has won nine straight, tied for the nation's fourth-longest win streak, and won 16 straight home games, tied for the fifth-longest homecourt win streak in D-I. Under the leadership of 13th-year head coach Matt Painter, the Boilermakers rank among the top 20 nationally in 13 stat categories and lead the Big Ten in scoring offense (87.2).

Single game tickets for Rutgers 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, which enable consumers to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package.

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