The scene was set for an epic day in Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights were set to host in-state rival and 22nd ranked Seton Hall for the 2019 edition of the Garden State Hardwood Classic presented by Affinity Federal Credit Union. The game had been sold out since October and rally towels were waiting at every seat for the Scarlet-clad fan base. 

The buzz in the air was evident as fans started streaming into the building. The team took the floor for warmups, with the team donning "Roll Model" t-shirts, a gesture of respect for Rutgers alumi Eric LeGrand, who sat courtside for the game. 

The RAC was officially packed! A crowd of 8,329 made their way into the building, the largest crowd for a game at the venue since 2002

After all the buildup, the game finally got underway. And it couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for the home team. The Scarlet Knights seized control of the game right out of the gate, scoring the first 14 points of the ballgame and opening up a 26-5 lead overall.

At halftime, Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano grabbed a microphone and took to the floor. Coach Schiano gave an impassioned speech to the crowd, rallying support for Rutgers. 

Back into action for the second half, Rutgers closed out the victory. With a 68-48 win, the 20-point margin represented the largest margin of victory ever over a ranked opponent. 

When the final buzzer sounded and the victory officially secured, the fans came storming onto the court to celebrate the win with the team. 

An annual tradition in the series is the awarding of the Joe Calabrese MVP Award to the game's most valuable player. In this game, there was no debate, as Ron Harper Jr. sealed the accolade with a game-high 18 points. 

To the victor go the spoils. The Scarlet Knights claimed the Garden State Hardwood Classic Trophy, and brought the New Jersey shaped wooden trophy into the home locker room to continue the celebration.