PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's basketball is back on the road for its next two games. The Scarlet Knights head next to Ann Arbor, facing No. 15/13 Michigan. The game will tip off at 9 p.m. and be broadcast on Peacock, with Paul Burmeister and Jalen Rose on the call.
Rutgers is looking for its second ranked win of the season. The Scarlet Knights are 1-4 this year against ranked teams.
Rutgers is coming off of 95-85 win over USC on Sunday night.
Dylan Harper had 25 points, nine assists and six steals. He became the first player this season and just third freshman since 2005 to reach that stat line. He tied a RU Big Ten record for steals in a game and was named the Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week.
Versus the Trojans, Rutgers scored its most points ever in a regulation game versus a Big Ten team. It was the first time scoring 90+ points vs. a Big Ten team since a 90-55 win over Minnesota on Feb. 1, 2023, and fourth time reaching 90+ this season. RU had five different players achieve double-figure scoring for the second time in the past four games (also vs. Iowa).
The Scarlet Knights shot 92.9% from the free throw line – tying the program record in a Big Ten game. RU also posted a 55.6 percent field goal percentage and had 10 steals with eight blocks.
Since returning from injury following the first game against Michigan, Harper has played in six games. Averaging 34.4 minutes, he's shot 48.2% from the field and 87.8% from the line for an average of 21.8 points, 4.5 assists and 2.3 steals. He had double-digits in all six and 25+ points in three of the six.
Against USC, Rutgers' utilized the starting lineup of
Dylan Harper,
Jeremiah Williams,
Ace Bailey,
Dylan Grant and
Lathan Sommerville for the sixth straight game. Of the team's 11 starting lineups used this season, that is now the most used lineup, with a 3-3 record in the six games.
RU, who has never averaged more than 69 points per game under head coach
Steve Pikiell is averaging 76.0 points per game this season. Rutgers has averaged 76 points per game just 16 times in the school's 111-year history (and not since 1992-92). The last time RU averaged over 70 points per game was 2013-14 (71.1 ppg). RU has averaged over 70 points per game for a full season just that one time since the start of the 2001-02 season.
Dylan Harper and
Ace Bailey occupy the 3 and 4 spots among RU true freshman point-scorers. Harper is just 21 points from tying for second place and 32 from first. Bailey is 37 from second place and 48 from first.
Rutgers True Freshmen Season Scoring Leaders: Total Points
- Mike Rosario (08-09): 517
- Phil Sellers (72-73): 506
- Dylan Harper (24-25): 485
- Ace Bailey (24-25): 469
- Corey Sanders (15-16): 430
Michigan is led by a first-year head coach in Dusty May. It marks the third straight game for RU against a first-year head coach (USC, Eric Musselman, Washington, Danny Sprinkle). The Wolverines are 21-6 overall and 13-3 in Big Ten play, leading the league.
Michigan is second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (40.5%). The Wolverines are also third in the league in assists (16.4 apg) and rebounds (38.22).
Michigan is led by a duo of 7-footers, each ranking fourth in the league in blocks. FAU transfer Vlad Goldin shoots 63.5% from the field (eighth nationally) and leads the team at 15.6 points per game. Yale transfer Danny Wolf is at 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds. Tre Donaldson has added 12.3 points and 3.9 assists.
Rutgers and Michigan will play for the second time this season. Michigan leads the all-time series 17-4. RU has won four of the past seven games in the series, including a trip to the Crisler Center in February 2024.
The two teams played earlier this month, February 1 at Jersey Mike's Arena, a 66-63 win for UM. Playing without
Dylan Harper,
Jamichael Davis led RU with 20 points, with
Tyson Acuff adding 14. Each player made four three-pointers in the game.
- Second ranked win of the season (No. 23/25 Illinois)
- Highest ranked victory of the season
- Three game winning streak for first time in Big Ten play this season
Rutgers stays on the road for its next game, playing at No. 20/19 Purdue. The game is Tuesday, March 4 at Mackey Arena. It is also on Peacock, a 7 p.m. tipoff.
