Live Coverage:
TV: FS1 (PXP: Kevin Kugler, Color: Steve Lavin)
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. - The Rutgers men's basketball team (16-9, 10-5 Big Ten) is back on the road for its next two contest, heading to Mackey Arena on Sunday to face the top-ranked team in the Big Ten, No. 5/7 Purdue.

It represents the fifth straight game against a ranked foe in a stretch of six straight games against ranked teams, all of them ranked No. 16 or better in the nation.

The Scarlet Knights are coming off a historic start to that stretch with four straight wins. Rutgers became the first unranked team in NCAA history to play four straight regular season games against ranked teams and win all four.

Rutgers has now defeated all five currently ranked Big Ten teams this season and has six Quad 1 wins.

History with Purdue

The Scarlet Knights had their signature victory of the season earlier this year with a 70-68 win over then No. 1 Purdue on December 9.

Ron Harper Jr. drilled a buzzer-beating halfcourt shot to give RU a 70-68 win for the highest ranked win in program history, giving him 30 points on the day. Despite Purdue leading the all-time series 12-5, Rutgers has won the last four meetings in the series. That includes a 71-68 thrilling overtime victory at Mackey Arena on March 7, 2020, in RU's last visit. Purdue enters the game with a 23-4 record on the year and 12-4 Big Ten record.

The Boilermakers shoot 50.2 percent from the field, third best in the nation, and average 82.1 points per game, sixth nationally. RU's defense has been key in this stretch, as Rutgers is 14-1 this season when holding teams to 65 points or less.

With a victory

A win over No. 5/7 Purdue would represent:

- The highest ranked road win in school history (previous: at No. 13 Pittsburgh)

- The program's third ever win over a team ranked in the top-five. The previous two both came since joining the Big Ten (No. 4 Wisconsin, 2015, No. 1 Purdue, 2021)

- The first time ever winning two road games against ranked teams in the same season - A fifth straight ranked win over ranked teams in five consecutive games, sixth ranked win this season and the 14th ranked win under head coach Steve Pikiell, all continuing to extend school records.

- The first time ever defeating the same team twice in one season with the team ranked both times.

- Five straight Big Ten wins, the longest active winning streak in the conference.

- 11 Big Ten wins on the season, tying a program record.

- Second highest ranked win under Pikiell.

The streak continues

With four straight ranked wins (No. 13 Michigan State, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 14 Wisconsin, No. 12 Illinois), RU now has:

- Five ranked wins on the season, the most ranked wins in one season in program history.

- Four straight wins over ranked teams, extending RU's program-record streak of consecutive wins over ranked teams.

- All four ranked wins in that span have come in four total consecutive games, also a program first.

 - A 5-0 record in games against ranked Big Ten teams this season (No. 1 Purdue, No. 12 Illinois, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 14 Wisconsin, No. 16 Ohio State).

- RU now holds a 5-1 record this year against ranked teams, with the lone loss at No. 23/25 Seton Hall - 13 ranked wins under coach Steve Pikiell.

- Four straight conference wins for Rutgers is the Big Ten's longest active winning streak.

- Rutgers holds wins over the top five teams in the current Big Ten standings, and the top seven non-Rutgers teams.

- Rutgers' 10th Big Ten win of the year represents the third straight season winning double[1]digit conference games.

- Rutgers has previously only had one other stretch in history winning double-digit conference games, coming from 1988-89 to 1990-91 in the A-10.

- Rutgers became the first team in NCAA Division I college basketball with wins in four consecutive games coming over ranked teams since Michigan State did so to close out the 2019-20 season
In that streak, RU:

- Earned its first-ever win at the Kohl Center. Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell moved past Tom Young for the most ranked wins for a coach in Rutgers program history.

Last time out

Rutgers and head coach Steve Pikiell defeated No. 12 Illinois 70-59 in a game where they never trailed at Jersey Mike's Arena on Wednesday night. Rutgers opened the game scoring on 7 of the first 9 possessions, using a 9-0 run for a 17-7 lead. The Scarlet Knights led by as much as 13 (24-11) in the opening half and as much as 23 in the game.

The win marked five ranked wins on the season, the most ranked wins in one season in program history and four-straight wins over ranked teams, extending RU's program-record streak of consecutive wins over ranked teams.