(RV) Michigan State Spartans (8-4, 2-4) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-6, 4-6)
Thursday, January 28 | 7 p.m. (ET)
The RAC | Piscataway, N.J.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's basketball returns home to The RAC following a two-game road trip to host Michigan State on Thursday at 7 p.m. (FS1). The game is presented by Horizon BCBSNJ.
TV: FS1 (Gus Johnson, play-by-play; Jim Jackson, analyst)
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (Jerry Recco, play-by-play, Mark Peterson, analyst - WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM/ XM 372) ; WRSU 88.7 FM (Chris Tsakonas and Brant Wolff)
RU concluded that road swing with a 74-70 win Sunday at Indiana, the program's first ever win at Assembly Hall. Geo Baker led the way with 19 points, while Ron Harper Jr. posted a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Myles Johnson also contributed eight points, eight rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Rutgers shot 51 percent from the field, its best mark in Big Ten play.
On the season, the Scarlet Knights have posted four Quad 1 wins, tied for the third most in the nation. Rutgers' four Quad 1 wins is also tied for the most of any Big Ten teams. The Scarlet Knights' four quad 1 wins include Illinois (7), Purdue (30), Maryland (37), and Indiana (48). RU's average opponent NET rank is 6th in the nation, while their NET Strength of Schedule ranks as the 7th toughest. In its first 10 league games, RU has played nine of them against teams in the top-50 of the NET and six of them against teams in the top-30 of the NET.
Rutgers has four Big Ten wins, which marks their third time reaching four Big Ten wins since joining the conference (seven seasons). The Scarlet Knights have two Big Ten road wins, matching the total from last season.
Rutgers' key to returning to the win column came in its' connectivity on both ends of the floor. The Scarlet Knights have done a good job in sharing the ball. RU boasts an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.45, the fourth best in the league and 20th in the nation. RU also ranks third in the conference and 23rd nationally in blocks with 4.9 blocks per game.
Myles Johnson spearheads RU's efforts in the paint with 2.21 blocks per game, second in the Big Ten. He is one of just two players in the Big Ten to rank in the top-10 in the league in blocks, rebounds (fifth, 8.6) and steals 7th, 1.43). Alongside him,
Jacob Young leads the league in steals at 2.07 thefts
Michigan State will play their first game since January 8th, following a pause in action due to positive COVID-19 tests. Prior to their three postponements, the Spartans had compiled an 8-4 record overall. Since facing Rutgers on Jan. 5, the Spartans have played just once, a 55-54 loss to Purdue. MSU is 5th nationally in assists per game (19.2), 20th in blocks 5.1) and 26th in free throw percentage (76.6). Aaron Henry leads the squad at 13. points per game and Joey Hauser has hauled in 8.1 rebounds per game.
Series Record: Michigan State leads 11-0 Last Meeting: Michigan State 68, Rutgers 45 (Jan. 5, 2021)
Thursday marks the 12th meeting in the all-time series. Rutgers is looking for its first lifetime win. Michigan State is one of just two Big Ten schools that Rutgers is yet to defeat since joining the conference in 2014-15 (along with Michigan). This is the second meeting this season, with the then-No. 23 Spartans claiming the first contest earlier in the month in East Lansing. In that game, RU forced 18 MSU turnovers, the most turnovers Rutgers has forced in a Big Ten game under
Steve Pikiell, and a season-high forced by RU.
The Scarlet Knights will debut a brand-new throwback uniform on Thursday night. The uniform is an homage to the 1982-83 Rutgers team that was the last RU squad to win an NCAA Tournament game. Under head coach Tom Young, the team finished with a 23-8 record and won the Atlantic-10 regular season title, then defeated Southwestern Louisiana in the first round of the NCAAs. The team was led by Roy Hinson, who would be drafted in the First Round of the NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and play eight seasons in the NBA. Hinson averaged 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game that season. Kevin Black (13.0 ppg) and Clarence Tillman (10.3 ppg) joined him in double-figure scoring.
