No. 25 Rutgers will goal for every other sturdy appearing when it hosts Saint Peter’s on Monday evening in Piscataway, N.J.
The Scarlet Knights (1-0) began the season with a 75-52 victory Wednesday over Wagner in spite of the absence of Ace Bailey, the country’s No. 2 total recruit in 2024.
Bailey, a 6-foot-10 guard/ahead, is indexed as daily after struggling an unspecified damage all the way through observe closing week.
“Once a year is thrilling in its personal approach, however yearly is difficult in its personal approach too,” Rutgers trainer Steve Pikiell mentioned. “So fast reminder with Ace, the demanding situations that include your season and having guys in a position, and early within the season, is at all times a problem.”
Every other five-star recruit, guard Dylan Harper, led host Rutgers with 20 issues and added 4 assists Wednesday, enjoying 32 mins within the 23-point victory.
“It used to be a dream come true, to be fair,” Harper mentioned. “Getting a possibility to play in entrance of this crowd, in entrance of the Rise up Squad, it is simply loopy. Truthfully, a blessing.”
Freshman Lathan Sommerville had 11 issues and 8 rebounds in his first collegiate sport. PJ Hayes IV scored 12 issues and Jeremiah Williams added 10.
In spite of the lopsided win, Pikiell is searching for growth in his crew in Recreation 2.
“We gotta rebound higher, we gotta do a large number of issues, however now we have were given much more gamers to make a decision from,” he mentioned.
Wagner outrebounded Rutgers 42-39, however the Scarlet Knights’ protection helped them triumph over the deficiency at the forums and are available away with the victory.
Rutgers held Wagner to 34.9 p.c capturing from the sphere and compelled 11 turnovers, scoring 16 issues off the ones errors.
Now, the Scarlet Knights will face Saint Peter’s (0-2), which is operating in 8 new gamers beneath trainer Bashir Mason.
“Toughness,” Mason mentioned in regards to the Peacocks’ taste of basketball. “We observe it each day. Simply being ready to resist antagonistic prerequisites, tough handlings, staying in combination and staying hooked up. Working out techniques to win.”
Even if Saint Peter’s is winless, each losses have come via seven issues or fewer after second-half comeback efforts.
On Friday, the Peacocks traveled to UMass Lowell and fell 81-74. Saint Peter’s trailed via 9 at halftime and via 15 early in the second one half of sooner than drawing inside 4 issues 5 occasions down the stretch.
Marcus Randolph led Saint Peter’s with 16 issues, and Stephon Roberts used to be two issues shy of a double-double with 8 issues and 11 rebounds.
The Peacocks began the season with a 57-53 loss at Seton Corridor on Monday. Saint Peter’s will play 8 of its first 9 video games at the highway this 12 months. Final season, the Peacocks traveled to Rutgers, too, dropping 71-40 on Nov. 27.
Saint Peter’s recovered on the finish of the season to win the MAAC Event identify and achieve its moment NCAA Event berth within the 3 seasons. In 2022, the Peacocks received 3 event video games sooner than falling to North Carolina within the Elite 8.
–Box Degree Media
