Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Men's Basketball Takes Three-Game Win Streak to Ohio State
Jan 31 | Men's Basketball
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (11-9, 4-6) AT OHIO STATE (13-7, 3-6)
SATURDAY, FEB. 2, 2019 | 12 P.M.
VALUE CITY ARENA (18,809) | COLUMBUS, OH
TV: BTN (Lisa Byington, play-by-play & Stephen Bardo, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 383) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Tevin Johnson-Smith)
Series Record: Ohio State leads 6-3
Last Meeting: Rutgers 64, No. 16 Ohio State 61 (Jan. 9, 2019 at the RAC)
OPENING TIP: Eighth place Rutgers travels to Ohio State in the first of three road games over its next four contests. The Scarlet Knights arrive in Columbus with their first three-game Big Ten win streak in tow and having won three consecutive, regular season conference contests for the first time since capturing four in 2003-04. The Scarlet Knights will be working to win back-to-back road games for the first time in Big Ten play. The last time RU won consecutive away contests in league action was 1999-00, when it won at Boston College on Feb. 2 and at Providence on Feb. 12 as a member of the Big East.
Rutgers overcame a 10-point deficit and limited Indiana to 35% shooting in a 66-58 defeat of the Hoosiers Wednesday at the RAC. RU benefitted from a 22-0 run that spanned the first and second half. It marked the Scarlet Knights' fourth Big Ten win, its most since joining the league in 2014-15, and elevated RU's home conference record to 3-3. Geo Baker was 8-for-8 at the charity to post a team-high 16 points, as Rutgers improved to 7-0 when the sophomore scores 16 or more. The Scarlet Knights have overcome double-digit deficits in four victories this season.
THE SERIES: Saturday marks the 10th meeting in the series dating back to 1978, and the second this season, with OSU holding a 6-3 advantage. The Scarlet Knights claimed a 64-61 victory over the No. 16 Buckeyes in Piscataway on Jan. 9. Montez Mathis scored 16 points to lead three first-year players in double figures. The teams had met just once prior to RU joining the Big Ten, a 97-96 overtime victory for the Scarlet Knights on Dec. 30, 1978 at Madison Square Garden. Rutgers also claimed a 66-57 win over OSU in the 2017 Big Ten Tournament in Washington, D.C., the Scarlet Knights' first Big Ten Tournament victory. RU is 0-3 on the Buckeyes' home floor.
THE OPPONENT: Ohio State has been ranked for eight weeks this season and as highly as No. 11 in the coaches poll. Sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson leads the team with 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds-per-game. Senior guard C.J. Jackson averages 12.5 points and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in assists (3.8). The Buckeyes are 35th in the NCAA in scoring defense (65.3) and 45th in FG% defense (40.6).
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years) 233-202 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years) 41-46 (3rd)
Record vs. Ohio State (RU) 2-3
Record vs. Ohio State(overall) 2-3
Ohio State Head Coach Chris Holtmann
Overall Record (years) 152-101 (8th)
Ohio State Record (years) 38-16 (2nd)
Record vs. RU (Ohio State) 2-1
Record vs. RU (Overall) 2-1
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.
SATURDAY, FEB. 2, 2019 | 12 P.M.
VALUE CITY ARENA (18,809) | COLUMBUS, OH
TV: BTN (Lisa Byington, play-by-play & Stephen Bardo, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 383) (Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Tevin Johnson-Smith)
Series Record: Ohio State leads 6-3
Last Meeting: Rutgers 64, No. 16 Ohio State 61 (Jan. 9, 2019 at the RAC)
OPENING TIP: Eighth place Rutgers travels to Ohio State in the first of three road games over its next four contests. The Scarlet Knights arrive in Columbus with their first three-game Big Ten win streak in tow and having won three consecutive, regular season conference contests for the first time since capturing four in 2003-04. The Scarlet Knights will be working to win back-to-back road games for the first time in Big Ten play. The last time RU won consecutive away contests in league action was 1999-00, when it won at Boston College on Feb. 2 and at Providence on Feb. 12 as a member of the Big East.
Rutgers overcame a 10-point deficit and limited Indiana to 35% shooting in a 66-58 defeat of the Hoosiers Wednesday at the RAC. RU benefitted from a 22-0 run that spanned the first and second half. It marked the Scarlet Knights' fourth Big Ten win, its most since joining the league in 2014-15, and elevated RU's home conference record to 3-3. Geo Baker was 8-for-8 at the charity to post a team-high 16 points, as Rutgers improved to 7-0 when the sophomore scores 16 or more. The Scarlet Knights have overcome double-digit deficits in four victories this season.
THE SERIES: Saturday marks the 10th meeting in the series dating back to 1978, and the second this season, with OSU holding a 6-3 advantage. The Scarlet Knights claimed a 64-61 victory over the No. 16 Buckeyes in Piscataway on Jan. 9. Montez Mathis scored 16 points to lead three first-year players in double figures. The teams had met just once prior to RU joining the Big Ten, a 97-96 overtime victory for the Scarlet Knights on Dec. 30, 1978 at Madison Square Garden. Rutgers also claimed a 66-57 win over OSU in the 2017 Big Ten Tournament in Washington, D.C., the Scarlet Knights' first Big Ten Tournament victory. RU is 0-3 on the Buckeyes' home floor.
THE OPPONENT: Ohio State has been ranked for eight weeks this season and as highly as No. 11 in the coaches poll. Sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson leads the team with 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds-per-game. Senior guard C.J. Jackson averages 12.5 points and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in assists (3.8). The Buckeyes are 35th in the NCAA in scoring defense (65.3) and 45th in FG% defense (40.6).
COACHING COMPARISON
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Overall Record (years) 233-202 (14th)
Rutgers Record (years) 41-46 (3rd)
Record vs. Ohio State (RU) 2-3
Record vs. Ohio State(overall) 2-3
Ohio State Head Coach Chris Holtmann
Overall Record (years) 152-101 (8th)
Ohio State Record (years) 38-16 (2nd)
Record vs. RU (Ohio State) 2-1
Record vs. RU (Overall) 2-1
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES
- Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers' strength of schedule ranks 24th nationally. RU has played five of the top six teams in the league standings. The Scarlet Knights have one ranked victory (No. 16 Ohio State), as well as two wins over opponents receiving votes (Miami, Nebraska).
- Rutgers ranks 21st nationally in offensive rebounds (13.25) and 29th in total rebounds (39.70). RU leads the Big Ten in offensive boards, and is second in total rebounds.
- Per KenPom.com analysis, Rutgers is among the nation's youngest teams with 1.12 years of experience to rank 322nd nationally out of 353 Division I programs. RU is also one of the nation's tallest teams with an average height of 78.9" to rank sixth in D-I.
- Rutgers has experienced ticket growth each season under the leadership of head coach Steve Pikiell. Season ticket sales have increased 7% over 2017-18 and average attendance through 13 games has improved 35% from last year.
- Rutgers had sellouts vs. No. 8 Michigan State (Nov. 30) and Maryland (Jan. 5), and has announced another vs. No. 5 Michigan (Feb. 5). It marks the first time in 14 seasons that RU has three or more home sell-outs this early in its calendar schedule.
- Eugene Omoruyi's 17 rebounds vs. BU marked the most for a Rutgers player since Adrian Hill grabbed 18 versus Notre Dame on March 3, 2007, a span of 12 seasons.
- Against Eastern Michigan, Rutgers allowed four points in the opening half to tie the NCAA D-I record for fewest points allowed in a half during the shot clock era (since 1985-86). The 36 points allowed also tied the school record, matching the defensive effort against Columbia (60-36) on Nov. 18, 2002.
- In the shot clock era, Rutgers has held an opponent under 40 points eight times. Steve Pikiell has been the head coach in four of those contests.
Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.
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