PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a home win over Indiana on Tuesday night, the Rutgers men's basketball team heads right back to the rugged road of the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights will next play at Michigan State this Sunday. The game will be at noon on Big Ten Network.
TV: BTN
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Dave Revsine
ANALYST: Laphonso Ellis
REPORTER: Andy Katz
RADIO: RWJ Barnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network WCBS 880 (WCBS-AM), Scarlet Knights App, Audacy App, XM 387
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Jerry Recco
ANALYST: Austin Johnson
WRSU STUDENT RADIO (88.7 FM) Dylan Allen, Eddie Kalegi
The Scarlet Knights are coming off of their first Big Ten win of the season, as five players scored in double-digits as RU held Indiana to a season-low output in a 66-57 victory. The Scarlet Knights hauled in 51 rebounds, matching the team's record for rebounds in a Big Ten regulation game.
Rutgers' inserted
Austin Williams into the starting lineup for the win against Indiana. He provided an immediate spark to the team, notching 10 points, six rebounds and two steals. It marked the first time this season he recorded back-to-back games of 10+ points, having scored 14 points at Iowa.
Rutgers has now used seven different starting lineups this season. That is the most of any Big Ten team. The Scarlet Knights have earned wins with five different starting lineups, playing no more than four games with the same starting group.
Cliff Omoruyi had five blocks in the game, his third time this season with 5+ blocks. He has multiple blocks in 12 of 15 games this season and eight games of at least four blocks.
Jamichael Davis added 10 points, having scored in double-figures in four of his last six games.
Mawot Mag led the team in scoring for the second straight game, and his career-high in assists and steals in the game. Mag has now vaulted into second on the team in scoring at 10.7 points per game in his seven games played since returning from injury, which would mark a new career best mark. Over his last three games, Mag has averaged 16 points and 6.7 rebounds. He is also the team's leading scorer in conference-only games this year at 16.0 points per game.
Michigan State will enter the game with a 9-7 overall record and 1-4 league mark following a 71-68 loss to Illinois Thursday night. MSU had multiple attempts at a game-tying basket but couldn't tweak the twine to extend the contest. Michigan State returns eight of its top 10 scorers from last season's squad behind Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo.
MSU's seven losses have all come to teams ranked in the top-70 of the KenPom rankings, while holding wins over Baylor, Butler and Penn State. The Spartans are 8-2 at home this season.
The squad is led by Tyson Walker, a Second Team All-Big Ten selection last year, who averages 20.4 points per game, second in the Big Ten and 17
th nationally. Tre Holloman is third nationally and first in the league with a 5.10 assist/turnover ratio. Maddy Sissoko leads the Spartans at 6.8 rebounds per game, as MSU is 10
th in the league in rebounding. Defensively, Michigan State is first in the league in three-point percentage defense and third in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense. A.J. Hoggard was a Preseason All-Big Ten selection alongside Walker, and has scored in double-figures in 13 straight games for an 11.6 points per game average.
Rutgers and Michigan State will match up for the 16
th time, and the Scarlet Knights have won three of the last four meetings after dropping the first 11 games in the series. Rutgers also claimed victories by 21 and 30 points over MSU in past three seasons.
The last time these two teams met was at Madison Square Garden last season. Cliff Omoruyi had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in a 61-55 victory.
Rutgers is looking for its first ever win at the Breslin Center.
- Rutgers' first win at the Breslin Center
- 4-1 record in last five games versus the Spartans
Rutgers will return home next Wednesday to host Nebraska. The Huskers have started the season 13-3 overall, including a win over No. 1 Purdue. RU then returns to the road to face No. 10 Illinois the following weekend.
