(RV) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-5, 3-5) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-6, 0-5)
Thursday, January 21 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Bryce Jordan Center | State College, Pa.
TV:BTN (Dave Revsine, play-by-play; Jess Settles, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/ XM 380); WRSU 88.7 FM
Rutgers men's basketball is back in action on Thursday night, as the team will travel to State College, Pa. to take on Penn State. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
Rutgers enters the contest following a hard fought contest against a top-10 foe, battling No. 9 Wisconsin to the wire but falling, 60-54. In that contest, Rutgers was back to full health with
Clifford Omoruyi returning from a knee injury that had caused him to miss the previous five games. With his return, it marked the first game this season where the Scarlet Knights had every scholarship player healthy.
With the return of the center, RU was able to impose its will down low. The Scarlet Knights held a 50-35 advantage in rebounding and outscoring the visitors 42-18 in the paint as well as 13-4 in second chance points. The 50 rebounds was a season-high and RU's second most ever in a Big Ten regulation game, while the 20 offensive rebounds also marked a season-high. Both the offensive rebounds and total number were the team's most since Feb. 1, 2020 against Michigan.
Rutgers held the Badgers to 35 percent from the floor and 24 percent from three-point distance. RU held the Badgers to a season low in three-point percentage and were the only team this season to hold Wisconsin under 40 percent from the field and under 30 percent from three.
The team is boosted down low by the presence of
Myles Johnson. The center is second in the Big Ten in blocks (2.0 bpg), fourth in the league in rebounding (8.8 rpg) and eighth in the league in steals (1.33 spg), the only player in the conference to be in the top-10 of all three categories.
The Scarlet Knights recently completed a stretch where they played five ranked teams over seven games. Of the Scarlet Knights' eight conference games so far, six of those have come against teams in the top-six of the league. With 12 games played out of a scheduled 24 regular season contests, the Scarlet Knights stand at the halfway point of their season. Per Ken Pomeroy, the Scarlet Knights' remaining opponents rank second in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency.
The game marks the third game in five days for the Nittany Lions, who returned from a COVID pause to play a condensed schedule. Following a 79-65 loss at Illinois on Tuesday night, PSU stands at 3-6 overall and winless in conference play. The team earned wins over VMI, VCU and at Virginia Tech as part of a 3-1 start before undergoing a current five-game losing streak. The team is led by Myreon Jones at 15.9 points per game and has four players averaging in double-figures. Penn State averages 9.8 three-pointers per game and lead the conference in offensive rebounds, steals and three-point defense. John Harrar averages 3.67 offensive rebounds per game, tops in the league.
Series Record: Penn State leads 42-34
Last Meeting: No. 16 Penn State 65, Rutgers 64 (Feb. 26, 2019)
Thursday marks the 77th meeting in a series dating back to 1922, with the Scarlet Knights looking for their 35th win. The teams split the season series last year, with each team winning the home game. Rutgers' is looking for its fifth win over Penn State since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15, and third road win in that span. Both marks would be the most against any conference foe. PSU is the only league school that RU has defeated multiple times on the road.
A victory on Thursday at Penn State would represent...
• Rutgers' fifth win over the Nittany Lions since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15. That would be the single most victories for RU against any Big Ten school.
• A third road win at Penn State since joining the Big Ten, improving the team's record at the Bryce Jordan Center to 3-2 in that span. Penn State is the only Big Ten school that RU has defeated multiple times on the road in that span.
"I liked the way we defended against Wisconsin. I thought we played hard and defended at the highest level we've defended against one of the most efficient offensive teams in our league. We've spent a few days working on things and now we'll move on to the next challenge in Penn State. There's a lot of the season left and we still have the chance to do some really good things." -
Steve Pikiell
