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Preview: Fairleigh Dickinson at Rutgers
Fairleigh Dickinson and host Rutgers wrap up a pair of grueling three-game stretches in four nights when they meet Tuesday in the consolation round finale of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Rutgers routed Stillman 116-89 in the consolation nightcap Monday after Fairleigh Dickinson lost to Norfolk State 70-62 in the opener at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have won nine of 10 meetings with the Knights.
Rutgers snapped a two-game losing skid by breaking loose for its highest-scoring output since a 132-83 victory over Keene State in 1992. After struggling to hold opponents in check in the second halves of their two previous losses, the Scarlet Knights outscored Stillman 56-38 over the final 20 minutes to finish the game at 60.3 percent from the floor. Fairleigh Dickinson dropped its sixth straight since winning its season opener despite a game-high 19 points from Sidney Sanders Jr.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NA
ABOUT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (1-6): Sidney Sanders Jr. and Mustafaa Jones, the only two returning starters for the Knights, lead the team in scoring at 16 and 10.5 points, respectively. Jones has been especially dangerous beyond the arc where he was shooting 48.6 percent to rank third in the Northeast Conference and second in the conference in total 3-pointers with 18 entering Monday. The Knights have been vulnerable on the boards, ranking last in the Northeast in rebounds with 29 per game.
ABOUT RUTGERS (4-3): The Scarlet Knights finally broke out of their early season scoring malaise against Stillman behind Myles Mack’s game-high 23 points, with six Rutgers scorers finishing in double figures. Mack had been the Big East leader in 3-point shooting percentage a season ago at 46.2 percent, but after starting this season at 25 percent in the AAC, he is 8-for-13 in his last two games. Rutgers has shot 21-for-41 from beyond the arc in the last two games.
TIP-INS
1. Rutgers F Kadeem Jack has scored in double figures in every game this season.
2. Fairleigh Dickerson has appeared in four NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2005, but has never won a game.
3. The Scarlet Knights’ 52 rebounds against Stillman were a season high.
PREDICTION: Rutgers 74, Fairleigh Dickinson 53
