RV/RV RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (17-7, 8-5) AT RV/RV OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (15-8, 5-7)
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Value City Arena (18,809) | Columbus, Ohio

TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, play-by-play; Shon Morris, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 83/Sirius 83; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Justin Sontupe and Rah Shah)
 
Series Record: Ohio State leads 7-3
Last Meeting: Ohio State 76, Rutgers 62 (Feb. 2, 2019)
 
OPENING TIP: Rutgers plays its third game away from the RAC over four contests when it travels to the Arch City to meet Ohio State on Wednesday evening. The Scarlet Knights have an opportunity to earn their ninth conference win, which would signal RU's most in league play since a 9-9 Big East mark in 1998-99. RU's luck has been limited at Value City Arena in Big Ten play, dropping four games by an average of 18.25 points. Rutgers' four league defeats away from the RAC since the new year this season have been by an average of 4.75 points.
 
On Sunday night, Rutgers earned its largest comeback victory in 24 years, battling back from 18 down, to defeat Northwestern at a sold-out RAC. Geo Baker scored a season high 25 points, as the Scarlet Knights improved their nation's-best home record to 16-0. Twenty-three of Baker's points were in the second half and in overtime. He shot 10-of-17, while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing-out five assists, with zero turnovers.
 
The Scarlet Knights' remaining schedule ranks first nationally in difficulty per the ESPN BPI. Of the seven contests, five are currently designated as quad one opportunities, with the other two residing in quad two. The stretch includes games against three ranked programs and another two receiving votes.
 
THE OPPONENT: Under third-year head coach Chris Holtmann, Ohio State has been ranked for 11 weeks this season, peaking at number two, following its 11-1 start. The Buckeyes have won three of their last four and are 11-2 at home. Kaleb Wesson leads OSU in scoring (14.0) and is fifth in the Big Ten in rebounding (9.6). The Buckeyes are atop the Big Ten and rank 20th nationally in 3-point FG% (37.9), while also ranking 15th in FG% defense (38.2) and 18th in scoring defense (61.6).
 
THE SERIES: Wednesday marks the 11th meeting in the series, with OSU holding a 7-3 advantage. The schools split the series last season, with the home team earning the win. The Scarlet Knights claimed a 64-61 victory over the No. 16 Buckeyes in Piscataway on Jan. 9. Montez Mathis scored a team-high 16 points. 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.
 
RATED RUTGERS
Haslametrics:  24
Andy Katz Power 36:  28
RPI:  28
NCAA NET:  31
Ken Pomeroy:  33
Rothstein 45:  33
ESPN BPI:  36
Jeff Sagarin:  37
Through 2/10/20 games
 
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years):  253-217 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years):  61-61 (4th)
Record vs. Ohio State (RU):  2-4
Record vs. Ohio State (overall):  2-4
  SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• RU joined the rankings for the first time since the final 1978-79 AP Poll (No. 18). The Scarlet Knight were No. 24/25 and No. 25/25 in the Jan. 20 & 27th polls, respectively.
• Off to its best home start (16-0) in program history, the top home record in the nation, Rutgers has a +15.7 scoring margin, a +9.5 rebounding advantage and has limited visitors to .365 shooting at the RAC.
• RU has sold-out a record 10 games at the RAC, including the final nine of the regular season. RU welcomed 8,329 fans vs. Seton Hall, its largest crowd in 18 seasons.
• Rutgers is 8th nationally in rebounding (41.17), 14th in FG% defense (38.0), 15th in rebound margin (+7.3), 16th in scoring defense (61.4), 31st in blocks (4.8) and 44th in scoring margin (9.2).
• Myles Johnson is 20th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (15.1) and 25th nationally in FG% (.632).
• Akwasi Yeboah is one of 23 active NCAA players with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds. He ranks 50th in career points (1,561) and 56th in rebounds (678).
• Rutgers is a young squad, ranking 242nd in experience per Pomeroy.
• Rutgers is undefeated when scoring 15 or more fast break points (9-0).
• Rutgers' 12-3 start was its best through 15 games since the 1975-76 season.
• From Dec. 11 to Jan. 19, RU held foes to 65 points or fewer in nine straight games (eight victories) for the first time since 1949-50.
• Rutgers last began league play with a 3-1 record as a member of the Atlantic 10 in 1994-95 (4-1).
• RU's 20-point win over No. 22 Seton Hall on Dec. 14 was its largest margin of victory over a ranked foe in program history.
• RU has claimed multiple ranked victories in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 campaigns.
• Rutgers was 4-0 against pro club teams during a tour of Spain in August. RU outscored its opponents 387-284 and had five players average double figures.

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