Caldwell @ Rutgers preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 9, 2010 ) Caldwell 62, Rutgers 70

Rutgers looks to stay unbeaten at home when it wraps up non-conference play against Division II Caldwell on Monday. The Scarlet Knights have won all nine of their home games this season, including a 63-44 victory against Lafayette on Dec. 22, and hope to stay on track for their first postseason berth in 16 years by taking down nearby Caldwell for the second time in program history.

"We're going to be focused on Caldwell when we get back from break," Rutgers guard Paul Mulcahy told reporters after the Lafayette game. "Every game is important to us and every play is important to us." Rutgers is 32-4 in non-conference home games under fourth-year coach Steve Pikiell and hopes to close out the decade on a high note by improving to 10-0 at home. The Scarlet Knights beat Caldwell 70-62 in their only previous meeting on Feb. 9, 2010 and hope to hold their third consecutive opponent to fewer than 50 points. The Cougars have won three of their last four games after a 2-5 start, and hope to continue their improved play by knocking off a Big Ten team for the first time in program history.

TV: 7 p.m. ET

ABOUT CALDWELL (6-5): Vaughn Covington scored 17 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in the game, to power the Cougars to a 63-61 win over Stonehill on Dec. 22. Covington added four rebounds and three assists while Anthony Cooper knocked down four 3-pointers en route to 15 points against the Skyhawks. Gabe Johnson and Eric Johnson-Alford each tallied six points to help Caldwell climb above .500 despite shooting 37.7 percent from the field.

ABOUT RUTGERS (9-3): Myles Johnson scored a career-high 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting and pulled down 14 rebounds in the win against Lafayette to register his third double-double of the season. Geo Baker added 10 points to finish in double figures for the 50th time in his career while Mulcahy tallied a career-high 10 points and four steals. "We were locked in," Pikiell told reporters. "For our guys to come out and play the way they did to start the game was a great sign that we have matured."

TIP-INS

1. Johnson is ranked second nationally in field goal percentage (74.6).

2. Rutgers has outrebounded 11 of its 12 opponents this season.

3. The Scarlet Knights are averaging 7.8 steals per game.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 83, Caldwell 50