Rutgers University
13-18,6-14Big Ten
Penn State
12-19,3-17Big Ten
Men's Basketball Dominates Penn State on Senior Day
Mar 08 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers closed the regular season on a high note Sunday, defeating Penn State 74–62 at Jersey Mike's Arena to continue its late-season surge. The Scarlet Knights have now won four of their final seven games after beginning Big Ten play 2–11, taking those victories by an average margin of 9.5 points.
Tariq Francis once again led the way for Rutgers, scoring a game-high 18 points. The guard has been one of the conference's most consistent scorers, reaching double figures in 24 of the team's 31 regular-season games, including each of the last 15 contests. Francis also went 5-for-6 from the free throw line, bringing his season total to 135 made free throws — the 13th-most in a single season in program history. Since Jan. 27, he has been nearly automatic at the stripe, converting 60 of his last 64 attempts (93.75%).
Rutgers received strong contributions throughout the lineup. Lino Mark added 16 points on an efficient 7-of-14 shooting night, continuing a productive stretch in which he has scored in double figures in six of his last eight games and is averaging 13.5 points across the last six contests. Darren Buchanan Jr. controlled the glass, pulling down a career-high 13 rebounds, while Chris Nwuli chipped in seven points, setting a new career-high for the second consecutive game.
Before the game, Rutgers honored senior center Emmanuel Ogbole on Senior Day along with five senior managers. Ogbole finished with five points, three rebounds and two blocks in the win. The senior has posted career highs across the board this season, totaling 135 points, 189 rebounds, 36 blocks and eight steals for the Scarlet Knights.
With the regular season complete, Rutgers will carry momentum into postseason play after finishing the year with a strong push over the final weeks. RU heads to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament to take on Minnesota on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Postgame Quotes
March 8
Head Coach Steve Pikiell — Opening Statement
"I always appreciate you guys coming, and I'm so thankful for the crowd today. It was an awesome crowd. Our fans are awesome. They were here for Senior Day too, which means a lot. You know, E [Emmanuel Ogbole] — we owe him a lot. He's been a worker for us and we appreciate everything he's done for the program.
The band, the cheerleaders, the students — it was awesome. It was an awesome environment. A good win. We are getting better. These guys [Tariq Francis, Emmanuel Ogbole, Lino Mark] played a big role in it, and I'm very thankful.
A new season starts after this. We head to Chicago, and everyone has a chance."
Coach Pikiell on players diving for loose balls and what it says about the team
"We have come a long way, and I'm proud of them. They just kept fighting through some obstacles. It's a tough time in college sports too when things are not going your way with all the distractions and nonsense these guys have to deal with. But they have stayed the course and they've gotten better.
Lino [Mark] jumps. Riq [Tariq Francis] has been really good. He gives us everything every day — blood, sweat, everything. He comes to work. They really have a worker's approach and they've approached practices the right way.
So diving for those loose balls — I'm proud of them. They've come a long way."
Coach Pikiell on how he feels about his team heading into the Big Ten Tournament
"Obviously we are better, and I loved tonight. Penn State is second in the league in steals — there are 18 teams in our league — so Penn State steals the ball. We start the game off with four turnovers. We get four turnovers and give up three layups, but then we settle down.
Early in the year we were turning the ball over a lot. Tonight we had seven turnovers for the game. The growth, the scouting reports, and the work these guys have done has been really good.
June [Darren Buchanan Jr.] getting 12 rebounds — we challenge him to rebound every night and he gets 12 for us. We've had different guys step up. We are getting better and we're playing some good basketball.
Now we have Minnesota, so we're going to have to play great. You get 40 minutes — get your 40."
Coach Pikiell on Lino Mark
"For me it's been awesome. He's a new player, really. He's putting pressure on the rim and playing with confidence. But he's also practicing that way. He's been great in practice and his practice habits have improved.
When you're a young basketball team, you have to go through some obstacles — especially in this league. This is the oldest league in the country. His growth comes from staying the course, watching more film, and practicing better.
That's really added a new dimension to us. Our backcourt — J Mike [Jamichael Davis] has accepted that role coming off the bench. He did fantastic today. These guys did a lot of great things for us."
Coach Pikiell on Chris Nwuli's performance off the bench
"Yeah, he's getting better too. He played great against Michigan State. We just have to get him to defend without fouling — that's one issue he has.
But he plays with great energy and he's very athletic. He goes through his ups and downs, but he's got a swagger to him right now. He stepped in for Bryce Dortch and played really well in his place."
Coach Pikiell on the freshman class and their potential
"They're great kids and they all come from great families. They're talented. It's a highly rated class coming in and hopefully they keep getting better and stay together.
You know it's a crazy world now — no one stays — so hopefully they will. Maybe they'll be different.
We had the governor here tonight, which was awesome. We have the best president and AD in the league. They really get into it. It's a good sign for us. The crowd was fantastic today and they've been showing up all season."
Coach Pikiell on the pressure to reward the fans for their patience
"They've been great. We've given them some tremendous moments here and we look forward to giving them more in the future.
They come and support us. These kids are great kids — good students. They represent the school the right way and they work.
When you take a job like this, it's the Big Ten. Eighteen teams. It's the best conference in the country — arguably one or two depending on who you ask — but I'll definitely say it's the best conference.
I watch other teams play on the road and I don't see environments like this. Michigan State was hopping three hours before the game. You don't get those environments everywhere. It's a great league and it's exciting."
Coach Pikiell on ball movement and improved play
"We've gotten better with the ball. When the ball moves, the scoreboard moves. We've come a long way.
They've learned from film and we've gotten after them about a lot of things. Some things they've soaked in better than others, but we've taken care of the ball.
We had a turnover problem earlier in the year and we've solved that. We do a great job making sure we get a shot up, and that's an important part of the results."
Coach Pikiell on what Emmanuel Ogbole means to the program
"He came here with an ACL injury and, as you know, that rehab is not easy. This guy has been in the training room constantly.
He's had an awesome year for us. He hasn't missed a drill or a practice. I gave him some leeway — I told him if he needed a day off for his knee, he could take it. He's never taken one.
He's plugged away and gotten so much better from that first year. He couldn't really play his first year and only got into a couple games.
Now his ability to make free throws, defend ball screens, block shots — he goes after everything. We haven't been a great rebounding team this year and he's been our guy every night consistently.
Foul trouble limits his minutes sometimes. When you're that big and strong, guys bounce off you and sometimes he gets some unlucky whistles.
He's getting his master's degree and he's just been awesome to coach. I appreciate him. He stayed here, which means a lot."
Jerry Carino presenting the Joe Boylan Media Award
"Joe Boylan was an assistant coach on Rutgers' 1976 Final Four team. Joe was also a radio analyst for Rutgers and just a great guy. He was beloved by everyone in the program and outside the program. He connected with everybody.
In Joe's honor, we established the Joe Boylan Media Award. We're going to give it out annually to the Rutgers player who excels with the media throughout the season.
The award is an engraved pen as a souvenir for the player. The player will also sign this basketball, which we'll keep and add to every year. Each winner of the Joe Boylan Media Award will sign it.
The winner of the 2025–26 Joe Boylan Media Award — the inaugural recipient — is Tariq Francis."
Tariq Francis accepting the Joe Boylan Media Award
"I appreciate it. We appreciate you all for coming out to watch the games and asking us great questions. We appreciate all the support and everything you do for us. Thank you."
