Scarlet Knights Host Purple Eagles Sunday

Sunday, November 10

Piscataway, NJ

1:00 PM ET

Rutgers University

Niagara

Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)

Nov 08 | Men's Basketball

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-0) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles
Sunday, November 10, 2019 | 1 p.m. (ET)
The RAC (8,000) | Piscataway, N.J.

TV: BTN Plus (Lou Brogno, play-by-play, Ralph Bednarczyk, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/SiriusXM 972; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe & Chris Tsakonas)

Series Record: Rutgers leads 2-0
Last Meeting: November 20, 2016 (Rutgers 78, Niagara 65)

PROMOTION(S): It will be the Scarlet Knight's birthday on Sunday with player autographs taking place post-game.

OPENING TIP: Rutgers (1-0) works to improve to 2-0 for the fourth consecutive season under Steve Pikiell when it hosts Niagara in a 1 p.m. tip-off on Sunday at the RAC, where Pikiell has directed the Scarlet Knights to a 25-4 record in non-conference games. The match-up is the second of three home games for RU over a span of seven days to begin its 108th collegiate season.

Rutgers led by as much as 16 points in the second half, but a persistent Bryant refused to relent, forcing RU to grind-out a 73-71 victory Thursday night at the RAC in its season-opener. The Scarlet Knights out-scored the Bulldogs 42-18 in the paint and out-rebounded the visitors by a 49-40 margin. RU also had 11 steals to force 21 Bryant turnovers. Three Scarlet Knights scored in double figures, while Geo Baker contributed eight rebounds and six assists.

THE OPPONENT: Designated as interim head coach on Oct. 24 after Patrick Beilein stepped down for personal reasons, Greg Paulus was officially named head coach on Thursday. His first game at the helm will be the Purple Eagles' season-opener Friday night at Drexel before their arrival in Piscataway. The former Duke standout joined the Niagara staff in May 2019 as an assistant after stops at George Washington, Louisville, Ohio State and Navy. Niagara was picked 10th in the MAAC Preseason Poll. James Towns is NU's top returning scorer (10.5) and rebounder (3.5,) after pacing the team and ranking seventh in the league in assists (3.4). The senior guard also shot a team-best 81.4% at the charity stripe to rank third in the MAAC.

THE SERIES: The contest will mark the third meeting between Rutgers and Niagara dating back to 1969. On Nov. 20, 2016, the Scarlet Knights established a commanding 42-3 advantage in bench points to ensure a 78-65 win at the RAC. Nigel Johnson was 9-of-14 off the bench to post a career-high tying 20 points and Rutgers out-scored the Purple Eagles 34-14 in the paint. In the initial match-up, Niagara defeated the Scarlet Knights 73-61 at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 18, 1969 en route to a 22-7 record and a No. 17 final ranking under Frank Layden.

HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years): 237-210 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years): 45-54 (4th)
Record vs. Niagara (RU): 1-0
Record vs. Niagara (overall): 1-0

RUTGERS IN GAME TWO UNDER PIKIELL

Date	Opponent	Result
11/11/18	Drexel	W, 95-66
11/12/17	CCSU	W, 71-67
11/13/16	Drexel	W, 87-66

SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

The Scarlet Knights are currently No. 75 in the Pomeroy Ratings after their season-opening victory over Bryant.
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.