OPENING TIP: The Scarlet Knights will play their third game in five days to open the season when they host Hofstra at The RAC on Sunday afternoon on BTN. The game is the second of two contests in the New Jersey Hoop Group Classic, the Scarlet Knights' MTE for this season.
In game two of the season on Friday night, Rutgers' had an offensive outburst to roll to a 96-75 victory over NEC preseason favorite Fairleigh Dickinson.
Ron Harper Jr. led the way with a career-high 30 points, the first 30-point performance by a Scarlet Knight since Corey Sanders scored 30 against Northwestern on Feb. 13, 2018.
Jacob Young added 24 points, his best scoring output in a Scarlet Knights' uniform. Young tied his career-highs in field goals (11) and steals (4).
Montez Mathis contributed 15 points as well, as RU reached 96 points.
The RU point total was the largest output in a game since posting 103 in a triple overtime contest against Illinois on Feb. 3, 2016. It marked the most points in a regulation game since scoring 116 against Stillman on Nov. 25, 2013, and most points in a regulation game against a Division I opponent since a 97-87 win over Villanova on January 9, 1999.
Rutgers is averaging 91 points on the season, topping the 85-point mark in both games to open the year. That marks the first time with back-to-back 85+ point performances since the opening two contests of the 2018-19 campaign. Harper Jr. is averaging 24 points a game through two contests, and also shares the team lead in rebounding with Cliff Omoruyi (7.0 rpg).
Montez Mathis is second on the squad with 16 points per game, while Young averages 14.5.
The Scarlet Knights have dominated opponents in the paint (128-70) and on fast breaks (56-7) in the opening games with an up-tempo style. RU is shooting 58.8 percent from the field and outrebounding opponents 45-32.
With
Geo Baker out for Friday's game (ankle),
Paul Mulcahy made his first career start at point guard and he collected eight rebounds.
Myles Johnson also contributed an all-around game off the bench with eight points, six rebounds, four blocks and two steals.
QUOTING COACH PIKIELL: "I loved our second half (versus FDU), I thought the defense was better, I thought we rebounded better and I though we took care of the ball better. So, improvement in the second half and that's a good sign and we need it to happen to beat a good Hofstra team coming up."
THE OPPONENT: Hofstra opens their season on Sunday after a COVID cancellation took down their projected Wednesday season opener. The 2020 Colonial Athletic Association champions are projected to defending their league title this year, as they place three players on the preseason all-conference teams (Isaac Kante, Tareq Coburn and Jalen Ray). The squad went 26-8 last season, but do graduate their top two scorers.
THE SERIES: Rutgers will take on Hofstra for the sixth time lifetime, in a series that dates back to 1959, then was contested four times in the 1990s. This will be the first matchup since 2000, in the ECAC Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden. Coach Pikiell faced the Pride six times while he was the head coach of Stony Brook, winning twice.
ON THE AIR: Big Ten Network (Play-by-play: Chris Vosters, Color Analyst: Ben Brust). Listen on WCTC 1450 AM / Sirius 135 / SXM 195 / App 957 (Play-by-play: Jerry Recco, Color Analyst: Joe Boylan)
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. HOFSTRA (2-3):
Date Score Result H/A
12/30/59 L 52-59 A
12/22/92 W 91-64 H
3/10/99 W 58-45 H
12/27/99 L 59-65 N
12/26/00 L 52-58 N
