Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Bryant Bulldogs
Thursday, November 7, 2019 | 7 p.m. (ET)
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.
 
TV: BTN (Jason Horowitz, play-by-play, Bob Wenzel, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 372; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Corey Jason)
 
Series Record: Rutgers leads 2-0
Last Meeting: November 21, 2017 (Rutgers 83, Bryant 54)

OPENING TIP: Rutgers opens its 108th season of collegiate basketball versus Bryant on Thursday evening in the first of three games in the Garden State Showcase at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights have a 78-29 all-time record in game one contests. Head coach Steve Pikiell is 3-0 at the RU helm in openers and 24-4 in non-conference home games. Three scholarship student-athletes are poised to see their first collegiate game action in a Rutgers uniform. Senior forward Shaq Carter and junior guard Geo Baker serve as team co-captains.
 
The Bulldogs will travel approximately 223 miles south from Smithfield (R.I.) for the match-up.
 
PROMOTION(S): The game is designated as Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Knight with #HeadbandHighlights as the designated hashtag. The first 5,000 fans will receive a headband and team poster.
 
THE OPPONENT: Under the leadership of second-year head coach Jared Grasso, Bryant begins its season by hosting Brown on Tuesday evening before arriving in Piscataway. The Bulldogs were picked sixth out of 11 teams in the Northeast Conference preseason coaches' poll, while Adam Grant was named to the NEC preseason all-conference team. The senior guard averaged 15.6 points-per-game for the second consecutive season in 2018-19, while rising to third in Bryant's Division I history with 1,317 points, a career total that ranks third among active NEC players. Grant was a third-team All-NEC selection last March. Bryant was the only team in the nation in 2018-19 to triple its wins total from 2017-18.
 
THE SERIES: This will be the third matchup between the squads. In 2017, Rutgers earned an 83-54 win at the RAC behind 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting with seven 3-pointers from then-freshman Geo Baker. The output remains Baker's career-high in points, field goals and three-pointers. Then-freshman Mamadou Doucoure established his career-high with four blocks.
 
In 2008, the Scarlet Knights triumphed 67-37, also at the RAC. In that contest, freshman Mike Rosario led the way with 18 points, while fellow rookie Gregory Echenique had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

RUTGERS HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years)................. 236-210 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years)...................... 44-54 (4th)
Record vs. Bryant (RU)...................................1-0
Record vs. Bryant (overall)............................. 1-0
 
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• The Scarlet Knights are currently No. 63 in the Pomeroy Preseason College Basketball Ratings.
• Rutgers was named the Most Improved Team of the 2018-19 season by Sports Illustrated in its year-end wards. The Scarlet Knights improved 70 positions in the Pomeroy ratings since the season's initial rating, best among all power conference programs.
• Rutgers entered the Fall 2019 semester with a 3.06 cumulative team grade point average.
• Rutgers was among the approximately 30,000 individuals who joined in the 18th annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk on Sept. 29. It marked the third consecutive year the team has participated in the event, with proceeds benefitting first responders and catastrophically injured service members.
• Under Steve Pikiell, RU has maintained 100 percent team participation in Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships community service initiatives for the past three seasons.
• Rutgers posted a 4-0 record against professional club teams during a tour of Spain in August. RU outscored its opponents 387-284 and had five players with double figure scoring averages.
• Rutgers returns three starters and eight scholarships letterwinners from a team that placed tied for 10th in the Big Ten with seven conference wins, RU's most in league play since also winning seven in Big East competition in 2005-06.
• Five players with starting experience from last season return, including junior G Geo Baker (31 starts), sophomore G Montez Mathis (23), sophomore G/F Ron Harper Jr. (18), junior G Peter Kiss (12) and senior F Shaq Carter (5).
• Rutgers has its deepest roster in some time, with all 11 scholarship players expected to see action in the rotation. Of the 10 scholarship players who made the trip to Spain, all averaged 15 or more minutes.
• Of Rutgers' 11 scholarship players, 10 are 6'4 or above and seven are 6'6 or taller. 

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