Tuesday, January 4, 2022 | 7:00 p.m.
Jersey Mike's Arena | Piscataway, New Jersey
TV: Big Ten Network (PxP: Jeff Levering Color: Robbie Hummel)  
Radio: Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network (WCTC 1450 AM/WOR 710 AM; PXP: Jerry Recco and Color: Austin Johnson)
WRSU 88.7 FM RU Student Radio

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Head coach Steve Pikiell has provided a lot of firsts in a long time for the Rutgers men's basketball program.
 
Pikiell has brought the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA Tournament, he has beaten a No. 1 seed in Purdue and has beaten just about every Big Ten opponent in the conference.
 
Pikiell's 2021-22 team will look to be the first Rutgers men's basketball team in school history to defeat Michigan when RU returns to Big Ten action on Tuesday to play Juwan Howard's (7-5) Wolverines.
 
"We need everyone to show up on Tuesday, we have a huge game against Michigan," Pikiell said. "It's one of the best teams in our conference. We're going to need everyone here, and Jersey Mike's loud." 
 
Rutgers is currently on a two-game winning streak where the Scarlet Knights defeated a pair of non-conference opponents in CCSU and Maine last week.

Rutgers last time out

RU defeated Central Connecticut State handily with their most dominant win of the season on New Year's Day at Jersey Mike's Arena compiling a 79-48 victory over the Blue Devils. It marked the first time RU won by 30-plus points since a 67-37 win over Michigan State on January 28, 2021.
 
Center Clifford Omoruyi had a career day with 19 points and 12 rebounds in 19 minutes played. Geo Baker  finished with 11 points, seven assists, two blocks and one steal in 24 minutes played on Saturday. Baker moved into 16^th all-time on the Rutgers men's basketball all-time scoring list on Saturday passing John Battle with 1,387 points in his career as a Scarlet Knight. 

The Scarlet Knights had a 9-0 run early in the game to push the lead in the first half. Another 15-0 run before the break separated RU by 30 points heading into halftime. Rutgers held the lead for all but 1 minute and 30 seconds of the matchup.

Rutgers' 44-14 lead at the break was its largest halftime advantage of the season. It was the least points allowed in the opening half of any game this season. The Scarlet Knights had 25 team assists in the game and 10 players were able to score.
 
Scouting Michigan

Michigan is led by seven-footer Hunter Dickinson who is averaging 15.3 points-per-game this season. Dickinson also leads the team with 9.3 rebounds-per-game.

Senior guard Eli Brooks is averaging 13.1 points-per-game and is the team's best scorer in the backcourt. Freshman forward Caleb Houston is the top newcomer of the Wolverines and has contributed with 9.3 points-per-game so far this season.

Senior guard Devante Jones has pitched in with 8.2 points-per-game and freshman Moussa Diabate (8.1 points-per-game) round out the Wolverines leading scorers.

Michigan last time out

Playing for the first time in 12 days, the University of Michigan men's basketball team fell at Central Florida, 85-71, Thursday (Dec. 30) at Addition Financial Arena.

Despite the Wolverines holding a 12-point advantage two minutes into the second half, Central Florida went white hot from the field, shooting 72 percent (18-for-25) and a perfect 8-for-8 from long range to outscore Michigan 54-36 in the second half and win by 14 points, 85-71. Knight guards Darin Green, Jr. (7-for-9 3FG; 27 points) and Brandon Mahan (5-for-7 3FG; 26 points) made all 12 of UCF's three-pointers.

Brooks and Jones paced the Maize and Blue with 35 of the Wolverines' 71 points. Brooks led with 18, including four three-pointers and four assists, while Jones had 17 points with four triples as well as seven rebounds and three assists. Dickinson finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Diabate had 13 points and six boards.

History with Michigan

Michigan and Rutgers have played 14 games, and the Wolverines have won all 14 matchups. The Wolverines have a 6-0 record in Piscataway, following its 60-52 victory on Feb. 19, 2020. Michigan has a 3-0 record in neutral site games -- the 1976 Final Four (W, 86-70), the 2004 NIT championship (W, 62- 55) and 2020 B1G Super Saturday at Madison Square Garden (W, 69-63).

Up next

Rutgers will take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Jersey Mike's Arena on Saturday, January 8 at 2:00 p.m.