PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's basketball heads to the World's Most Famous Arena this weekend, as the Scarlet Knights will face Michigan State at Madison Square Garden. RU is the designated home team for the contest, part of Big Ten's annual Super Saturday event.
 
The game will air on FOX at 12 p.m. with Kevin Kugler and Jim Spanarkel on the call. WCBS 880 AM has the radio broadcast with Jerry Recco and Austin Johnson.
 
ABOUT RUTGERS

Rutgers has been propelled by an outstanding defense. The Scarlet Knights are 15-1 when holding its opponent to 65 or fewer points and 7-0 when doing so in Big Ten games. Rutgers has allowed 65 points or fewer in all but 3 games this year.
 
Offensively, RU broke out in its last two games, scoring 80+ points in consecutive Big Ten games for the first time in program history.
 
RUTGERS LAST TIME OUT

The Scarlet Knights defeated Minnesota 90-55, the largest margin of victory in a conference game since 1989. Rutgers' 30 assists were its most ever in a Big Ten game. It was the 2nd time this season with 30 assists in a game. Prior to this season, RU had not had 30 assists in a game since 1992. Rutgers shot 59.7% from the field, its second best ever in a Big Ten game.  Rutgers had six players score in double-figures for the first time all season. 
 
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE

MSU enters the game at 14-8, 6-5 in the Big Ten. The Spartans didn't play a midweek game after a Sunday loss at No. 1 Purdue, and are 1-2 since playing RU on Jan. 19.
 
The Spartans are second in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio. Tyson Walker leads the team at 13.9 points per game, while Joey Hauser is at 7.5 rebounds. AJ Hoggard is second in the Big Ten at 5.9 assists per game.
 
 
THE SERIES

Rutgers and Michigan State face off for the 15th time, with the Scarlet Knights having won two games of the last three after dropping the first 11 meetings. In the earlier game this season, MSU won 70-57 despite a double-double (12 points, 12 boards) from Cliff Omoruyi.
 
Last season, RU had a 21-point win, and then had a 67-37 win in a fan-less home game in the 2020-21 season. The 30-point win had stool as the largest margin of victory in a Big Ten game prior to Wednesday night's 35-point win over Minnesota.
 
WITH A WIN

A victory over Michigan State would represent:
- A 10-3 mark in the past 13 games
- Eighth Big Ten win, the second most league wins of any team
- 3-1 in the last 4 games vs Spartans
- 54th win all-time at Madison Square Garden (fifth win in the last eight games played there).
 
MILESTONE WATCH

Caleb McConnell needs one steal to tie Rashod Kent for third all-time at RU.
 
Cliff Omoruyi needs three blocks to tie Sean Axani for 11th and five behind JR Inman for 10th all-time at RU.
 
Cam Spencer has 53 steals this season. With one more steal he will tie for 16th most in a season at RU, two more will tie him for 15th, and three more will tie him for 11th.
 
RUTGERS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

Overall record: 53-59
Record at current Madison Square Garden: 47-57
Record at Super Saturday: 0-2
Last trip: Feb. 1, 2020 vs. Michigan (Super Saturday)
 
Rutgers is 2-3 at Madison Square Garden under Steve Pikiell, having played twice previously in the Big Ten's Super Saturday event (losses to Wisconsin and Michigan) and three games at the 2018 Big Ten Tournament (2-1 record).

LETTERWINNERS RECOGNITION

Rutgers men's basketball's head coach Steve Pikiell and the Rutgers men's basketball family are thrilled to welcome back cherished members of RU history for three separate events during the 2022-23 season. There will be an all-letterwinners event at Madison Square Garden against Michigan State, with 58 letterwinners currently RSVP'd to attend. The 1983 and 1991 teams were honored during January home games.