The Rutgers University men's basketball program will try and enter the holiday break on a positive note Thursday, as the Scarlet Knights host the New Jersey Institute of Technology at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ (7:30 p.m.). Rutgers (6-5) will be searching for its third straight victory while trying to build up some momentum before it travels next week to No. 11-ranked Florida Gators, Thursday, Dec. 29, in the team's non-conference, regular-season finale.
Behind a collegiate-best performance of 22 points from freshman guard Myles Mack, who started his first game Saturday,The Scarlet Knights defeated Stony Brook, 67-58. The victory, which featured sophomore center Gilvydas Biruta netting 13 points and freshman guard Eli Carter adding 11, was Rutgers first true win of the season.
Biruta and Carter enter Thursday contest as Rutgers leading scorers with both averaging 11.4 points per game. Biruta leads the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game, while junior guard Dane Miller is averaging 6.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders (4-5) have yet earn a victory over a major conference opponent. Senior guard Isaiah Wilkerson paces N.J.I.T. in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (5.1 rpg).
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