Rutgers University’s men’s basketball team will play Seton Hall in the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic on Saturday at 8 p.m. The game, held at the Prudential Center in Newark, will be broadcast on FS1 and covered by radio stations WFAN and WRSU.
The rivalry between Rutgers and Seton Hall dates back to 1919, with this matchup marking their 76th meeting. Seton Hall currently leads the series 42-33. Since 1974-75, the teams have met 61 times, with many games being closely contested—23 of the last 30 meetings were decided by six points or fewer, and five went into overtime.
The winner of Saturday’s game will receive the Garden State Hardwood Classic Trophy. Additionally, the Joe Calabrese Award, named after a sportswriter who covered the series extensively, will be given to the game’s most valuable player.
Last season’s contest ended dramatically when Dylan Harper made a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure a win for Rutgers. Harper finished with a game-high 24 points and received the Joe Calabrese MVP award. In that game, Ace Bailey contributed 15 points as Rutgers overcame a ten-point deficit in the second half for a 66-63 victory.
This year, sophomore forward Dylan Grant leads Rutgers in scoring with an average of 14.9 points per game and is shooting exactly 50% from the field. He has reached double figures in nine out of ten games so far this season. Guard Tariq Francis is averaging 11.8 points per game and has one of the top free throw percentages nationally at 96.3%. Jamichael Davis leads Rutgers with 30 assists and is approaching his career milestone of 150 collegiate assists.
Freshman Harun Zrno recently joined Rutgers’ starting lineup and scored 13 points in each of his last two games while shooting efficiently from both inside and beyond the arc.
Seton Hall enters Saturday’s matchup with a record of 9-1, its best start before this rivalry since similar runs in previous years. The Pirates’ only loss came against USC by one possession. Their roster features several first-year transfers among their top scorers: AJ Staton-McCray (13.9 points per game), Tajuan Simpkins (11.2), Budd Clark (who scored 22 against Rutgers last year), Mike Williams (9.6), Elijah transfer, and Stephon Payne as their leading rebounder.
Defensively, Seton Hall ranks fourth nationally in blocks per game (6.6) and seventh in turnover margin (+6). They are also ranked eleventh for scoring defense (allowing just under 62 points per game) and twelfth for steals per contest (10.7).
Since introducing the trophy in 2014—crafted from recycled Asbury Park boardwalk planks—the series stands at six wins for Seton Hall to four for Rutgers during trophy games; however, Rutgers has won four of seven since 2017 but holds only one win at Prudential Center during that period.
Looking ahead, after facing Seton Hall, Rutgers will return home to Jersey Mike’s Arena to host Penn on December 20 before entering a stretch of four consecutive home games against Delaware State, Ohio State, and Oregon.
With a win over Seton Hall on Saturday, Rutgers would secure its third straight victory in this rivalry series and claim its fifth Garden State Hardwood Classic Trophy overall.
