Dec. 30, 2016
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State travels to Rutgers for a New Years Day tilt Sunday with both teams looking for their first Big Ten win. The game will be televised by ESPNU with Jay Alter and Dalen Cuff on the call.
STORYLINES
- This is the 70th all-time meeting with the Lions holding a 39-30 advantage in the series. Penn State leads the series 2-1 since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014-15, including a win in the last meeting in Piscataway.
- Five players are averaging in double figures for Penn State, led by junior captain Shep Garner (14.1) and freshman Lamar Stevens (12.4). Three freshmen are among the top five scorers and are each of top three rebounders.
- Mike Watkins leads Big Ten in total blocks (46) and is tied for second in the NCAA. His 3.3 blocks per game are first in the league and fifth overall. He has had four or more blocks five times this season.
- Josh Reaves leads the Big Ten in total steals (24), despite only playing in nine games. He averages 2.7 per game, 0.8 more than next in line.
- Penn State's non-conference strength of schedule is currently ranked No. 33 in Division I and fourth in the Big Ten, according to ESPN. The conference strength of schedule is 12th overall, which also is fourth in the league.
SETTING THE SCENE
Penn State is looking for its first win of Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions have earned their first league win within the opening three games twice under head coach Patrick Chambers.
The Nittany Lions are 3-2 all-time when playing on the first day of the New Year with all five meetings taking place on the road.
NEW YEARS DAY MATCHUPS
1/1/29 | at Michigan | L, 32-11 |
1/1/38 | at Western Reserve | W, 42-34 |
1/1/40 | at Mount Union | W, 31-24 |
1/1/08 | at Northwestern | W, 79-68 |
1/1/12 | at Northwestern | L, 68-56 |
SCOUTING RUTGERS
- The Scarlet Knights head into the weekend with an 11-3 record after wrapping up the non-conference schedule with an 11-2 mark with a strength of schedule ranked No. 290 (ESPN).
- Rutgers has lost each of its last two games against Seton Hall and the league opener vs. Wisconsin, 72-52, Tuesday.
- Four players are scoring in double-figures for the Scarlet Knights, led by Nigel Johnson with 12.6 ppg. Deshawn Freeman is second with 12.0 ppg and a team-leading 9.0 rpg.
- Rutgers is averaging 71.9 ppg with a scoring margin of +9.4. The loss to Wisconsin marked the first time it was held under 60 points this season.
SERIES HISTORY
- Penn State and Rutgers have met 69 times previously with the Lions holding a 39-30 advantage in the series. Penn State leads the series 2-1 since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014-15.
- The Lions captured the last meeting in Piscataway with a 70-58 decision Feb. 20, 2016.
- The Scarlet Knights and Nittany Lions were both members of the Atlantic 10 Conference from 1976-79 and from 1982-1991. Penn State was 11-12 vs. Rutgers as an A10 conference foe.
CURRENT ROSTER VS. RUTGERS
Six players on the current roster have taken the court against Rutgers, led by Shep Garner's 13.7 ppg in three appearances. He scored a series-high (among current players) 20 points in the win last season.
Player | GP-GS | PPG | RPG | SERIES HIGH |
S. Garner | 3-3 | 13.7 | 2 | 20, at RU (2/20/16) |
J. Reaves | 1-1 | 12 | 6 | 12, at RU (2/20/16) |
P. Banks | 3-1 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 6, at RU (2/20/16) |
I. Washington | 1-0 | 3 | 4 | 3, at RU (2/20/16) |
J. Moore | 3-0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2, vs RU (1/24/15) |
D. Zemgulis | 1-0 | 0 | 2 | 2, at RU (2/20/16) |
LAST TIME AGAINST THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Feb. 20, 2016) - Shep Garner scored 20 points and dished out four assists and Brandon Taylor had a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds to lead Penn State past Rutgers 70-58.
Donovon Jack and Josh Reaves both had 12 points and six rebounds for Penn State (14-13, 5-9 Big Ten). Jonathan Laurent led Rutgers (6-21, 0-14) with 19 points and 15 rebounds. The freshman guard tied his career-high in rebounds. He had 15 rebounds against UMass Lowell earlier this season.
NOTABLE GAMES IN THE SERIES
Dec. 1, 2004 (PSU, 83-80): Then-freshman Geary Claxton scored 10 of his 17 points in the second half, including two decisive late-game foul shots, to give Penn State its third-consecutive win of the 2003-04 season. This was Penn State's last visit to the RAC.
Feb. 27, 1991 (RU, 92-70): Rutgers handed Penn State its largest loss of the season in the regular-season finale in Piscataway before the Nittany Lions went on a four-game winning streak through the Atlantic 10 tournament and the second round of the NCAA tournament.
March 21, 1990 (PSU, 58-55): In the National Invitational Tournament quarterfinal in Piscataway, Penn State rallied from a second-half deficit to defeat Rutgers for its first trip to the NIT semifinals.
UP NEXT
Penn State has three-consecutive games away from the Bryce Jordan Center, beginning New Year's Day at Rutgers. The Nittany Lions then travel to Ann Arbor for a Jan. 4 matchup with Michigan before taking the Big Ten to Philly and hosting Michigan State Jan. 7 in a sold-out Palestra.