RV/RV RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (16-6, 7-4) AT 9/9 MARYLAND TERRAPINS (17-4, 7-3)
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Xfinity Center (17,950) | College Park, Md.

TV: FS1 (Tim Brando, play-by-play; Len Elmore, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/XM 195/Sirius 211; Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan); WRSU 88.7 FM (Jake Schmied and Jake Ostrove)
 
Series Record: Maryland leads 10-3
Last Meeting: Maryland 77, Rutgers 63 (Jan. 5, 2019)
 
OPENING TIP: Winners of 10 of its last 13, Rutgers plays its second straight game away from the RAC when it travels to College Park to meet Maryland. The Scarlet Knights are receiving votes in both polls after being nationally ranked in consecutive weeks. Tuesday evening's match-up provides RU the opportunity to earn its highest-ranked road win in program history and its seventh top 10 victory overall.
 
The Terrapins are the third straight opponent for Rutgers that it had not defeated since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014-15. The Scarlet Knights' remaining schedule ranks 3rd nationally in difficulty per ESPN's BPI. Seven of RU's next eight games are against foes that are either ranked or receiving votes.
 
Rutgers out-rebounded Michigan by a 51-37 margin in its last outing, but was unable to tweak the twine with consistency in a 69-63 loss at Madison Square Garden on Big Ten Super Saturday. Montez Mathis scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Scarlet Knights, who overcame a 14-point, second half deficit to get within two in the game's final minute. RU's 51 boards signaled its most in a Big Ten regulation game and included 26 offensive rebounds.
 
THE OPPONENT: Under ninth-year head coach Mark Turgeon, Maryland has been nationally-ranked for 13 weeks, reaching as high as No. 3. The Terps have won four straight and are 12-0 at home. Big Ten Player of the Week Anthony Cowan leads the team and is fifth in the Big Ten in scoring (16.2), while also ranking fifth in assists (4.3). Jalen Smith has 12 double-doubles, and paces UM in both rebounding (9.8) and blocks (2.3). Maryland ranks 24th nationally in FG% defense (38.6) and 27th in scoring defense (62.2).
 
THE SERIES: Tuesday marks the 14th meeting dating back to 1940. The teams had met six times prior to both joining the Big Ten in 2014-15. Rutgers' last win over the Terps was a 95-79 decision on Dec. 28, 1991, in the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Tucson, Arizona. UM has won seven straight in the series and is 4-0 at the Xfinity Center.
 
RATED RUTGERS
Haslametrics:  16
RPI:  25
Andy Katz Power 36:  27             
NCAA NET:  28
Ken Pomeroy:  29
Rothstein 45:  31
ESPN BPI:  37
Jeff Sagarin:  37
Through 2/2/20 games
 
HEAD COACH STEVE PIKIELL
Overall Record (years):  252-216 (15th)
Rutgers Record (years):  60-60 (4th)
Record vs. Maryland (RU):  0-4
Record vs. Maryland (overall):  0-5
 
SCARLET KNIGHT NOTABLES

• RU joined the national 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 (15-0) in program history, the top home record in the nation, Rutgers has a +16.5 scoring margin, a +8.9 rebounding advantage and has limited visitors to .360 shooting at the RAC.
• RU has sold-out a record 10 games at the RAC, including the final nine home games of the regular season. RU welcomed 8,329 fans vs. Seton Hall, its largest crowd in 18 seasons.
• Rutgers is 12th nationally in rebounding (40.86), 14th in FG% defense (38.0), 16th in scoring defense (61.1), 18th in rebound margin (+7.1), 37th in blocks (4.7) and 41st in scoring margin (10.0).
• Myles Johnson is 13th nationally in FG% (.659) and 14th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (15.7).
• Akwasi Yeboah is one of 19 active NCAA players with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds. He ranks 50th in career points (1,535) and 56th in rebounds (666).
• Rutgers is a young squad, ranking 243rd 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. Jan. 19, RU held opponents 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.

Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional news and updates.