Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Garden State Hardwood Classic Extended Through 2026
May 08 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY – Rutgers and Seton Hall have signed a contract to extend the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic six more years at alternating home sites through the 2026 season. The Scarlet Knights and Pirates have met 69 times on the collegiate hardwood dating back to 1916.
The #GSHClassic Trophy is presented annually to the winner of the rivalry contest which will take place in Newark this upcoming season. 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 is also bestowed upon the game's most valuable player.
The Trophy presently resides in Piscataway after the Scarlet Knights' 71-65 win over No. 15 Seton Hall on Dec. 16 at the RAC. Corey Sanders shot 9-of-16 to score 22 points and Deshawn Freeman added a double-double (12 points, 16 rebounds), as the Scarlet Knights earned their first nationally-ranked victory since a 67-62 win over No. 4 Wisconsin on Jan. 11, 2014.
A capacity crowd of 8,318, the largest at the RAC since February 23, 2002, provided an energized setting for the match-up. The student section, which comprised a raucous segment of the crowd, flooded on to the floor at the game's conclusion to celebrate the comeback victory with their classmates.
"The environment was awesome," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell post-game. "I respect Seton Hall tremendously. They are well coached, have good players, and I knew it would be one of those games. I'm really proud of our guys. We weren't making shots, weren't making free throws, but we just hung in there. That's what we've done and we figured out a way to win."
Seton Hall holds a 39-30 all-time advantage in the rivalry. The teams have played 55 times since 1974-75 and have met every season since 1995-96. Rutgers is 17-17 all-time at home versus the Pirates. The arenas for the schools, dubbed the "RAC" and the "Rock," are separated by a 27-mile drive.
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (@RutgersMBB) and Instagram (@RutgersMBB). For additional news and updates, please download the Rutgers Athletics Gameday App.
The #GSHClassic Trophy is presented annually to the winner of the rivalry contest which will take place in Newark this upcoming season. 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 is also bestowed upon the game's most valuable player.
The Trophy presently resides in Piscataway after the Scarlet Knights' 71-65 win over No. 15 Seton Hall on Dec. 16 at the RAC. Corey Sanders shot 9-of-16 to score 22 points and Deshawn Freeman added a double-double (12 points, 16 rebounds), as the Scarlet Knights earned their first nationally-ranked victory since a 67-62 win over No. 4 Wisconsin on Jan. 11, 2014.
A capacity crowd of 8,318, the largest at the RAC since February 23, 2002, provided an energized setting for the match-up. The student section, which comprised a raucous segment of the crowd, flooded on to the floor at the game's conclusion to celebrate the comeback victory with their classmates.
"The environment was awesome," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell post-game. "I respect Seton Hall tremendously. They are well coached, have good players, and I knew it would be one of those games. I'm really proud of our guys. We weren't making shots, weren't making free throws, but we just hung in there. That's what we've done and we figured out a way to win."
Seton Hall holds a 39-30 all-time advantage in the rivalry. The teams have played 55 times since 1974-75 and have met every season since 1995-96. Rutgers is 17-17 all-time at home versus the Pirates. The arenas for the schools, dubbed the "RAC" and the "Rock," are separated by a 27-mile drive.
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (@RutgersMBB) and Instagram (@RutgersMBB). For additional news and updates, please download the Rutgers Athletics Gameday App.
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