NJIT @ Rutgers preview

New Jersey Tech at Rutgers

Last Meeting ( Dec 7, 2017 ) New Jersey Tech 64, Rutgers 73

Rutgers looks to extend its home winning streak to five games when it faces NJIT on Tuesday. The Scarlet Knights bounced back from a disappointing 80-74 loss to St. Bonaventure in the James Naismith Classic in Toronto with a 69-57 victory against Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday to improve to 4-1 for the second straight season, and hope take down NJIT for the fifth consecutive time.

"We've got to get better in a lot of ways, but it was a really nice win," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell told reporters. "It was a big win and a big step for us … because that's an NCAA Tournament team." The Scarlet Knights have won the previous four meetings with NJIT by an average margin of 13.5 points and were 73-64 victors in their most recent matchup on Dec. 7, 2017. Rutgers is 28-4 in non-conference home games under Pikiell and aims to extend its winning streak against non-Big Ten teams in Piscataway, N.J. to nine in a row. NJIT has suffered back-to-back losses after dropping a 79-63 decision to Brown on Saturday and hopes to get back on track by knocking off a Big Ten opponent for the first time since shocking Michigan 72-70 on Dec. 6, 2014.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT NJIT (2-4): Junior guard Zach Cooks scored 22 of his game-high 30 points in the second half to go along with four rebounds and three steals against Brown to surpass 1,000 points for his career. Cooks has scored 30 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time, but the Highlanders were doomed by a 38.9 percent shooting performance from the field. Shyquan Gibbs added eight points, but finished 3-of-11 from the floor while San Antonio Brinson was limited to six points after pouring in 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in his previous outing,

ABOUT RUTGERS (4-1): Caleb McConnell led the Scarlet Knights with 16 points and pulled down six rebounds while Akwasi Yeboah added 13 points, as they held Stephen F. Austin 31.5 points below its season average. Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. each scored 11 points while Myles Johnson had a career-high four blocked shots in the win against the Lumberjacks. "Everyone helped and contributed in this game," Pikiell said. "I thought that we were ready to play from the onset and every guy that checked into the game had to give us great minutes."

TIP-INS

1. Rutgers is 22-5 in games during the month of November under Pikiell.

2. Yeboah has scored in double figures 74 times in his career.

3. Cooks is ranked fifth nationally in points per game (25.5).

PREDICTION: Rutgers 74, NJIT 67