As the college basketball season heats up, fans are eagerly anticipating the high-stakes matchup between Rutgers and Penn State. This game features two potential top picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. Rutgers, despite a few narrow losses, has shown resilience and star power. Meanwhile, Penn State comes into the game with an impressive record, having only one loss in non-conference play.
Game Details
The highly anticipated game between Rutgers and Penn State will take place at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey. Fans can catch the live action exclusively on Peacock at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, December 10. This game is set to be a showcase of young talent and strategic gameplay, making it a must-watch for college basketball enthusiasts.
How to Watch
To watch the game, you need to subscribe to Peacock. Once subscribed, you can either visit PeacockTV.com/Sports on your web browser or download the Peacock app on your phone, tablet, or streaming device.
Navigate to the Sports section, find the live game, and start streaming. Peacock will stream 56 men’s basketball games and 26 women’s basketball games across the 2024-2025 season, including the first rounds of both the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s tournaments.
Students can get a special discount on Peacock, paying just $1.99 per month for 12 months. Visit Peacock to learn more and get started.
Star Players to Watch
This game features two standout freshmen, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, who are leading Rutgers in scoring. Harper has been a force on the court, averaging 23.3 points per game on 50.7% shooting, with 81% from the free-throw line. He also contributes 4.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and a steal per game.
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Bailey, on the other hand, is averaging 17.9 points, six rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, showcasing his skills with impressive shooting splits of 45.4% from the field, 36.7% from three, and 80% on free throws.
Dylan Harper’s Legacy
Dylan Harper is the second son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper. The elder Harper had a distinguished 15-season career in the NBA, starting with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers before winning three titles with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
He concluded his career with two consecutive titles alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers. Dylan Harper’s performance this season is a testament to his inherited talent and the high expectations that come with his family name.
Team Performance and Statistics
According to Sports Reference, Penn State and Rutgers have faced each other 75 times since the 1949-50 season, with Penn State holding a 42-33 edge and a plus-246 overall score differential. This historical context adds an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup.
Betting Insights
According to DraftKings, Rutgers is a -1.5-point favorite for this game. The best bet is on total points under 157, supported by several statistics.
Although Rutgers’ defense has not been up to its usual standard, conference play tends to slow things down. Notably, 25 of Rutgers’ last 26 home conference games have gone under 155 points.
Additionally, Penn State has scored 75 or fewer points in each of its last 14 games against Rutgers. This will also be Penn State’s first true road game of the season, which could impact their performance.
Season Highlights
Penn State has quietly emerged as one of the better teams in college basketball, boasting an 8-1 start, including decisive victories over Virginia Tech and No. 11 Purdue.
Rutgers, meanwhile, has faced a challenging schedule, dropping three straight games to No. 7 Alabama, No. 17 Texas A&M, and Ohio State. However, the losses to the ranked teams were by a combined nine points, and the loss to Ohio State was their first conference road game led by freshmen. Back at home, Rutgers is expected to bounce back.
Home Court Advantage
Rutgers has been perfect at home this season, with a 4-0 record. In November, they defeated Wagner, Saint Peter’s, Monmouth, and Merrimack by an average margin of 15.25 points. This home court advantage could play a crucial role in their performance against Penn State.
Conclusion
The Rutgers vs. Penn State game is set to be a thrilling encounter, featuring top-tier talent and high stakes.
With Rutgers looking to leverage their home court advantage and Penn State aiming to continue their impressive run, fans can expect a closely contested game.
For more details on how to watch and enjoy this exciting matchup, visit NBC Sports.
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