Lafayette @ Rutgers preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2007 ) Lafayette 79, Rutgers 90

Rutgers looks for its third consecutive win when it hosts Lafayette on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights have notched impressive back-to-back wins, including a 68-48 rout of then No. 22 Seton Hall in the Garden State Hardwood Classic on Dec. 14, which was their largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history, and they hope to ride the momentum to their ninth consecutive home triumph this season.

"The program has really grown and to see the place packed and having the support of our community is great," Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell told reporters. "Lafayette is a dangerous team and we'll have to keep our guys focused on this matchup." Rutgers has won 11 consecutive non-conference home games with their last four victories coming by an average margin of 21 points. The Scarlet Knights and Lafayette will meet for the 116th time, which is the second-most played series in Rutgers' history, and the Scarlet Knights hope to extend its winning streak in the rivalry to six games. The Leopards are off to their best start in five years following a 96-56 win against Widener, and they hope to stretch their winning run to six games by knocking off a power conference team for the first time since beating Penn State on Dec. 7, 2011.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT LAFAYETTE (7-2): Justin Jaworski scored 28 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting from the floor to lead the Leopards to their highest offensive output since putting up 97 points against Wagner on Dec. 16, 2014. E.J. Stephens added 12 points and Kyle Stout had nine as Lafayette knocked down 16 3-pointers en route to shooting a sizzling 57.9 percent from the field overall against Widener. Tyrone Perry and Quinn Neal each tallied nine points each as 12 different players finished with at least two points.

ABOUT RUTGERS (8-3): Ron Harper Jr. scored 18 points and pulled down six rebounds en route to earning Joe Calabrese Game MVP honors in the win against Seton Hall. Akwasi Yeboah added 14 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots to finish in double-figures scoring for the 76th time in his career while Caleb McConnell chipped in with nine points and three steals against the Pirates. "Our guys were driven and they were determined, and we're a good basketball program," Pikiell told reporters. "Every guy contributed and every guy did what they needed to do."

TIP-INS

1. Rutgers has won 10 of the last 12 meetings with Lafayette.

2. The Scarlet Knights are 6-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points.

3. The Leopards are ranked third nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (42.9).

PREDICTION: Rutgers 78, Lafayette 67