Rutgers Scarlet Knights (18-10, 9-8) at 16/14 Penn State Nittany Lions (20-7, 10-6)
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Bryce Jordan Center (15,261) | University Park, Pa.

TV: BTN (Jason Horowitz, play-by-play; Shon Morris, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 382; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Randy Degregorio and Raj Shah)

Series Record: Penn State leads, 41-34
Last Meeting: Rutgers 72, Penn State 61 (Jan. 7, 2020)

OPENING TIP: Rutgers plays its second of three road games over four contests to conclude its regular season at No. 16/14 Penn State. The Scarlet Knights will work for their fourth ranked victory of the season with an opportunity to sweep the home-and-home series with the Nittany Lions after a 72-61 win at The RAC on Jan. 7. RU earned its first ever series sweep since joining the Big Ten earlier this season over Nebraska. Rutgers also has an opportunity to earn its most conference wins (10) since 1990-91 (14-4; A-10). RU's three remaining opponents boast an average NCAA Net ranking of 23.6.

The Scarlet Knights' remaining schedule ranks first in difficulty per the ESPN BPI. Rutgers is the nation's only team with its final five regular season games all designated as Quadrant 1 opportunities.

Geo Baker became the 44th RU player to reach 1,000 career points when he surpassed the milestone via 16 points at Wisconsin on Sunday. The team tri-captain has averaged 16.4 points over his last five games. Ron Harper Jr., who scored a game-high 21 points against the Badgers, has averaged 16.0 points over the last five games.

THE OPPONENT: Penn State has earned its most regular season victories during the nine-year tenure of head coach Pat Chambers and is 13-2 at home this season. PSU leads the Big Ten in steals (7.9) and is 18th nationally in blocks (5.0). Senior Lamar Stevens is seventh nationally among active players with 2,145 career points, while senior Mike Watkins ranks second and seventh among active NCAA players with 263 blocks and 935 rebounds, respectively. Stevens is currently fourth among the conference leaders in scoring (18.0), while junior guard Jamari Wheeler is atop the Big Ten in steals (1.63). No. 25 in the NCAA Net rankings, the Nittany Lions have seven quadrant one victories this season, including a home win over Maryland and a road victory at Michigan State.
 
THE SERIES: Wednesday marks the 76th meeting in a series dating back to 1922, with the Scarlet Knights looking for their 35th win, including their 13th on the road. RU has won three its last five against PSU, including two of the last three at the Bryce Jordan Center. Earlier this season, Rutgers overcame a 10-point first half deficit, shooting 51.7 percent after the break, to defeat No. 20 Penn State 72-61 at a sold-out RAC. Ron Harper Jr. scored a game-high 22 points, as RU deposited a season-high 22 free throws and issued nine blocks, its most ever in a Big Ten game.
 
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• Steve Pikiell is one of 15 coaches named to the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Late 2020 Season Watch List.
• RU joined the rankings for the first time since the final 1978-79 AP Poll (No. 18). The Scarlet Knight were No. 24/25 & No. 25/25 in the Jan. 20 & 27th polls, respectively.
• RU has earned nine conference wins for the first time since 1998-98 (9-9; Big East).
• RU has ensured its first winning season since 2005-06 (19-14).
• Rutgers has tied its record for home wins (17) in a season and boasted the nation's best home record at a perfect 17-0. RU has a +14.3 scoring margin, a +8.6 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 12th nationally in FG% defense (38.4), 16th in rebounding (40.07), 18th in scoring defense (62.6), 22nd in rebound margin (+6.3) and 34th in blocks (4.6).
• RU leads the Big Ten in scoring defense.
• Myles Johnson is 17th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (14.8) and 2nd in the league during conference games (13.5)
• Akwasi Yeboah is one of 26 active players with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds.
• Rutgers is a young squad, ranking 243rd in experience per Pomeroy.
• RU has claimed three ranked victories for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign.
• 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.
• 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.

HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years):  254-220 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years):  62-64 (4th)
Record vs. Penn State (RU):  3-3
Record vs. Penn State (overall):  3-4
 
RATED RUTGERS

Haslametrics	26
Ken Pomeroy	32
ESPN BPI	34
NCAA NET	34
Rothstein 45	37
Massey	37
Jeff Sagarin	46
RPI	52

Through 2/24/20 games

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