Saturday, December 30
Piscataway, N.J.
12 PM
Rutgers University
vs
Stonehill
Photo by: Ben Solomon
Men’s Basketball to Host Stonehill in Non-Conference Finale
Dec 27 | Men's Basketball
12 pm Game on Saturday, December 30 on Big Ten Network
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers men's basketball will be back in action this Saturday at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights will host Stonehill at noon on Big Ten Network in the final non-conference game of the season.
The game will be on Big Ten Network, with Jason Horowitz and Austin Johnson on the call. Rutgers' radio broadcast will feature Jerry Recco and former Rutgers' guard Geo Baker.
Rutgers holds a 7-4 record on the season heading into its final game against a non-conference opponent. The Scarlet Knights are 6-1 this season at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights are 20-7 at home over the past two seasons, 30-11 at home over the past three seasons and 48-12 at home over the past four seasons.
Rutgers enters the matchup with a 6-0 record in home non-conference games. The Scarlet Knights are 33-2 in the past five seasons at home against non-conference foes and have won 49 of their past 53 home non-conference games. Under head coach Steve Pikiell since 2016-17, Rutgers is 57-6 in home non-conference games.
Last time out, RU battled with an SEC foe at the Prudential Center in Newark, but fell to Mississippi State, 70-60, at the Gotham Classic. Aundre Hyatt led RU with 18 points in that game, his second-highest scoring output of the season. Derek Simpson tied his career-high with six assists. Rutgers defense was able to limit MSU's leading scorer, Josh Hubbard, to a season-low two points after he entered the game at 16.0 points per game.
Clifford Omoruyi is second in the nation with an average of 3.45 blocks per game. He has averaged 4.4 blocks per game in the last five contests. Omoruyi is one of just three Rutgers' players to have over 750 career rebounds and 165 career blocks, joining James Bailey and Roy Hinson.
Jamichael Davis has 21 assists and just three turnovers in his past five games. On the season, the freshman shares the team-lead with 32 helpers. Davis' assist to turnover ratio is 3.57, best of any freshman in the nation.
For the season, Rutgers is 8th nationally in blocks (6.1 bpg), 13th in scoring defense (61.7), 14th in turnover margin (5.0) and 16th in FG% defense (38.0%). Per KenPom, Rutgers' defense is second nationally in non-steal turnover percentage (12.2).
Stonehill enters the matchup at 2-12 overall. The Skyhawks will play their 11th road game of the season at RU on Saturday. The slate thus far for the Skyhawks includes a number of high major opponents and frequent NCAA Tournament teams, with losses thus far including George Washington, UConn, Saint Joseph's, Kentucky and most recently Miami. Stonehill has wins thus far over Army and Hartford.
Tony Felder (12.8 ppg), Jackson Benigni (12.7 ppg) and Max Zegarowski (12.0 ppg) are the team's leading scorers. Zegarowski was named Preseason All-NEC. The Skyhawks are led by Chris Kraus, who has been at the helm of the program since 2013.
Stonehill enters its second season as a Division I member in the Northeast Conference. Last season, the team finished in second place with a 10-6 league record and were picked to finish sixth in the league entering this season. Stonehill earned 15 NCAA Division II Tournament bids over its history.
This will be the first meeting between the two schools. The Scarlet Knights are the first ever Big Ten team that Stonehill will face.
Clifford Omoruyi recently recorded 1,000 career points, currently at 1,038. He is within 22 points of 37th (JR Inman: 1,060; 38. Damon Santiago: 1,056; 39. Mike Rosario: 1,051; 40. Gene Armstead: 1,046; 41. Kadeem Jack: 1,044; 42. Dane Miller: 1,042)
Rutgers dives back into Big Ten Conference play, with the resumption of league play seeing three of the first four contests in 2024 on the road.
The game will be on Big Ten Network, with Jason Horowitz and Austin Johnson on the call. Rutgers' radio broadcast will feature Jerry Recco and former Rutgers' guard Geo Baker.
| About Rutgers |
Rutgers holds a 7-4 record on the season heading into its final game against a non-conference opponent. The Scarlet Knights are 6-1 this season at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Scarlet Knights are 20-7 at home over the past two seasons, 30-11 at home over the past three seasons and 48-12 at home over the past four seasons.
Rutgers enters the matchup with a 6-0 record in home non-conference games. The Scarlet Knights are 33-2 in the past five seasons at home against non-conference foes and have won 49 of their past 53 home non-conference games. Under head coach Steve Pikiell since 2016-17, Rutgers is 57-6 in home non-conference games.
Last time out, RU battled with an SEC foe at the Prudential Center in Newark, but fell to Mississippi State, 70-60, at the Gotham Classic. Aundre Hyatt led RU with 18 points in that game, his second-highest scoring output of the season. Derek Simpson tied his career-high with six assists. Rutgers defense was able to limit MSU's leading scorer, Josh Hubbard, to a season-low two points after he entered the game at 16.0 points per game.
Clifford Omoruyi is second in the nation with an average of 3.45 blocks per game. He has averaged 4.4 blocks per game in the last five contests. Omoruyi is one of just three Rutgers' players to have over 750 career rebounds and 165 career blocks, joining James Bailey and Roy Hinson.
Jamichael Davis has 21 assists and just three turnovers in his past five games. On the season, the freshman shares the team-lead with 32 helpers. Davis' assist to turnover ratio is 3.57, best of any freshman in the nation.
For the season, Rutgers is 8th nationally in blocks (6.1 bpg), 13th in scoring defense (61.7), 14th in turnover margin (5.0) and 16th in FG% defense (38.0%). Per KenPom, Rutgers' defense is second nationally in non-steal turnover percentage (12.2).
| About Stonehill |
Stonehill enters the matchup at 2-12 overall. The Skyhawks will play their 11th road game of the season at RU on Saturday. The slate thus far for the Skyhawks includes a number of high major opponents and frequent NCAA Tournament teams, with losses thus far including George Washington, UConn, Saint Joseph's, Kentucky and most recently Miami. Stonehill has wins thus far over Army and Hartford.
Tony Felder (12.8 ppg), Jackson Benigni (12.7 ppg) and Max Zegarowski (12.0 ppg) are the team's leading scorers. Zegarowski was named Preseason All-NEC. The Skyhawks are led by Chris Kraus, who has been at the helm of the program since 2013.
Stonehill enters its second season as a Division I member in the Northeast Conference. Last season, the team finished in second place with a 10-6 league record and were picked to finish sixth in the league entering this season. Stonehill earned 15 NCAA Division II Tournament bids over its history.
| Series Info |
This will be the first meeting between the two schools. The Scarlet Knights are the first ever Big Ten team that Stonehill will face.
| Milestone Tracker |
Clifford Omoruyi recently recorded 1,000 career points, currently at 1,038. He is within 22 points of 37th (JR Inman: 1,060; 38. Damon Santiago: 1,056; 39. Mike Rosario: 1,051; 40. Gene Armstead: 1,046; 41. Kadeem Jack: 1,044; 42. Dane Miller: 1,042)
| A Win Would Represent: |
- Head coach Steve Pikiell's 125th win at the helm of Rutgers.
- Rutgers would be 7-1 at home this season, 21-7 at home over the past two seasons, 31-11 at home over the past three seasons and 49-12 at home over the past four seasons.
- Rutgers would improve to 7-0 record in home non-conference games this season, 34-2 in the past five seasons at home against non-conference foes and have won 50 of their past 54 home non-conference games, improving to 58-6 under head coach Steve Pikiell since 2016-17 in home non-conference games.
| Up Next |
Rutgers dives back into Big Ten Conference play, with the resumption of league play seeing three of the first four contests in 2024 on the road.
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