Rutgers Carries 4-Game Win Streak into Happy Valley Tonight
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are looking to keep that winning feeling going tonight when they meet up with the Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Arena tonight at 6:30 p.m. A Rutgers win tonight would extend their winning streak to five games, as the Scarlet Knights look to push their way up the standings in the BIG 10.
Rutgers currently has the fifth best record in-conference at 3-1, trailing only Michigan State (4-0), Illinois (4-0), Ohio State (4-1), and Wisconsin (4-1). Rutgers won’t see those four teams until the calendar reads February, but until then, this is another opportunity for the Scarlet Knights to bulk up their resume come tournament time.
Rutgers is coming off a game in which it scored 93-points against Nebraska, the most scored in a Big 10 Conference game in school history. Rutgers shot the lights out the other night, hitting on 58 percent of their shots, and have been shooting around 50 percent in each of their victories during this current four-game winning streak.
Not only has Ron Harper Jr., this week’s All-Met Player of the Week, been spectacular this season, but Rutgers has gotten key contributions from just about everyone who touches the floor. Geo Baker is averaging a little over 11 points per game, while Clifford Omoruyi has been important on both ends of the floor, leading the team in rebounding (101), and has scored the second most points with 163.
Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy have also been dangerous on the floor for RU; in fact, Mulcahy leads the Big 10 in assists per game with 6.8.
With that said, Rutgers will need to be careful tonight against Penn State. Sure the Nittany Lions are just a game over .500 at 7-6, and are under .500 in Big 10 play at 2-3, but they will pose a stiff challenge for Rutgers defense. Junior Forward Seth Lundy is leading the way offensively with 14.5 points per game. Senior forward John Harra is averaging a double-double and is hitting on close to 70 percent from the field.
Rutgers is 34-42 all time against Penn State; 6-8 against the Nittany Lions since joining the Big 10. Penn State has won the last two head-to-head meetings between the two programs. Rutgers last won out in Happy Valley in January of 2019.
Remember to catch the action right here on your home for Rutgers basketball, 93.5 FM, 1450 AM Fox Sports New Jersey.
