Princeton Tigers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024

Preview and Prediction

Rutgers supporters are still elated following their team's last-minute triumph against their fierce rival Seton Hall last weekend.

The Scarlet Knights (7-4) have the opportunity to solidify their position as the top team in New Jersey as they seek revenge against Princeton (8-4) on Saturday afternoon on a neutral court in Newark, N.J.

Last season, the two teams faced off in their season opener, reigniting a rivalry that had been dormant since 2013. Princeton emerged victorious with a 68-61 win on a neutral court in Trenton, ultimately finishing the regular season with a record of 24-3. The Tigers have come out on top in four of their last five meetings.

However, this is not your typical Rutgers team. The Scarlet Knights have won their last two games against Penn State and Seton Hall, with their standout freshman player Dylan Harper scoring 24 points in both games. Harper sealed the victory against Seton Hall with a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer on December 14th, securing a 66-63 win after trailing by 10 points.

Head coach Steve Pikiell expressed his satisfaction with the team's growth, stating, "We are making progress. This team has shown toughness and resilience. We have done well, but we need to figure out how to maintain this level of play... Our team must continue to learn from the different styles of our opponents."

Harper is currently the third-highest scorer in the country, averaging 23.5 points per game, in addition to 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He is most effective close to the basket, shooting an impressive 59.5% inside the arc.

Fans and NBA scouts alike will be eager to see the point guard matchup between Harper and Princeton's Xaivian Lee.

In their last three games, Lee has either led or tied for the lead in points, rebounds, and assists for the Tigers. His most notable performance was a triple-double against Saint Joseph's, with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, making him the first player in Princeton history to achieve this feat. In their most recent game against Monmouth, Lee contributed 23 points, six rebounds, and six assists in a close 71-67 victory.

Reflecting on his performance, Lee said, "I thought as a team we did a good job staying composed; for myself, too. In a game like that last year, if I had missed three 3-pointers that I felt were going in, I might have shut down a bit. So I was pleased to see that I was able to stay confident and take control towards the end of the game because my teammates and coaches trust me to make those plays."

In addition to the Harper-Lee matchup, Princeton will also have to find a way to contain Rutgers' other highly-touted freshman, Ace Bailey.

At 6-foot-10 with a wingspan of approximately 7 feet, Bailey is a versatile player who can excel in both the backcourt and the frontcourt. His size will pose a challenge for the smaller Tigers, as he averages 17.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

PREDICTION

Princeton Tigers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Princeton Tigers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Recap DEC 21TH 2024

Caden Pierce made the game-winning hook shot with five seconds left and Princeton stunned Rutgers 83-82 in a back-and-forth rivalry contest Saturday afternoon in Newark, N.J.

Pierce finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds and Xaivian Lee added 21 points, 11 assists and six rebounds as the duo carried Princeton (9-4) to its fifth win against Rutgers in the last six meetings.

Dylan Harper led all scorers with 22 points for Rutgers (7-5), but unlike last week when he made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat Seton Hall, his shot at the final horn didn't go.

It was a two-point game in the closing minutes when Lee drove in for a layup. After Ace Bailey missed a pair of close shots and Princeton recovered possession, Lee converted a difficult reverse layup for an 81-75 lead, the Tigers' largest of the game, with 2:28 to go.

Rutgers' Jeremiah Williams made a jumper, Jamichael Davis forced a turnover and Bailey hit a baseline shot to cut it to two in the final minute.

Princeton had an inbounds pass with 20 seconds left that Williams leapt in to steal. The ball made it around to Bailey, who knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer.

But Princeton sped down court and got the ball in Pierce's hands for the decisive bucket.

Bailey added 15 points and 12 rebounds for Rutgers and Jordan Derkack scored 10.

Princeton outshot Rutgers 47.1 percent to 46 percent overall and 46.7 percent to 36.1 percent in the second half.

Neither team led by more than five in an entertaining first half that saw Rutgers shoot a red-hot 59.3 percent. The Tigers used 12 offensive rebounds for 14 second-chance points to stay in the game.

Lee was held scoreless until the 5:38 mark of the half, yet he hit the locker room with seven points and six assists. He tied the game at 42 by making a 3-pointer and adding a tough, falling layup.

Rutgers slipped behind by two before Harper scored two of his 17 first-half points and former Princeton forward Zach Martini sank two free throws to give the Scarlet Knights a 46-44 halftime edge.

Emmanuel Ogbole scored five straight points for the Scarlet Knights, who soon led 55-49. Princeton scored the next seven points while Rutgers missed eight straight shots, but Williams' steal led to Davis burying a corner 3 in transition for a 58-56 lead with 13:16 left.

Lee made four free throws in a 31-second span to flip the lead back in Princeton's favor, and after trading some baskets, Philip Byriel's 3-pointer made it a 77-73 Tigers lead with about five minutes left.