Rutgers Aims to Keep Rolling Against Penn State

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are picking up steam and heading to Penn State on Monday night, looking to snag their third straight win and sweep the season series in this Big Ten showdown.

Rutgers: Finding Their Groove

After a bumpy start to the season, Rutgers (10-8, 3-4 Big Ten) seems to be hitting its stride. Coming off a gritty 85-82 road win over Nebraska, the Scarlet Knights are building momentum and closing in on .500 in conference play. They’ve already beaten Penn State once this season, edging out an 80-76 win back in December.

A lot of their recent success has to do with Dylan Harper, the freshman guard who’s been nothing short of incredible. He dropped 21 points in the win over Nebraska and had a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double the last time these teams met. And he’s not doing it alone—Ace Bailey added 24 points and 11 rebounds against Nebraska, giving Rutgers a solid one-two punch.

Coach Steve Pikiell isn’t getting ahead of himself, though. He knows there’s still room for improvement on both ends of the floor, but he’s proud of how the team has handled tough road environments. That mindset will come in handy at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State: Searching for a Spark

Meanwhile, Penn State (12-6, 2-5 Big Ten) is struggling to find answers. They’re in the middle of a four-game losing streak, including three losses to ranked teams. Their latest was a tough 90-85 loss at Michigan State, a game where turnovers and rebounding issues really hurt them.

Despite the losses, the Nittany Lions have some bright spots. Ace Baldwin Jr. continues to lead the way, scoring 20 points and dishing out nine assists against Michigan State. Off the bench, D’Marco Dunn added 18 points, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser bounced back with 13 points after a rough stretch of games. They’ve got talent—they just need to put it all together.

Coach Mike Rhoades knows the team has to clean up their mistakes, especially when it comes to protecting the ball and grabbing rebounds. Those will be key areas if they want to snap this losing streak.

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What to Watch

This game is shaping up to be a battle of momentum versus desperation. Rutgers is riding high with back-to-back wins and has Harper and Bailey leading the charge. Penn State, on the other hand, is desperate for a win to stop the bleeding and will need big efforts from Baldwin and Niederhauser to get back on track. Rebounding could be a game-changer—Penn State’s struggles on the boards have cost them, and Rutgers will look to capitalize.

The Bottom Line

Rutgers comes in with confidence, but Penn State’s playing at home with a sense of urgency. Both teams have something to prove, making this Big Ten clash one to watch. If Rutgers can stay consistent and Penn State cleans up their mistakes, we could be in for a close and exciting game.