As we move into December, New Jersey’s college basketball teams continue to battle it out on the court, with both exciting wins and tough losses across the state. From thrilling matchups in the Big Ten to local rivalries, here’s a roundup of all the latest results in New Jersey college basketball, along with a quick look at other sports.
Men’s Basketball: Local Teams Face Challenges and Triumphs
Rutgers Men’s Basketball Dominated by No. 3 Michigan in 101-60 Blowout
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In what turned out to be a one-sided affair, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights were overwhelmed by the third-ranked Michigan Wolverines, who cruised to a dominant 101-60 victory on Saturday. This loss dropped Rutgers to 5-5 on the season and 0-2 in Big Ten play, while Michigan improved to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. was the standout player of the game, contributing 22 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting. The Wolverines have been in blistering form, winning five consecutive games by margins of 25 points or more. This latest performance marked Michigan’s third consecutive game scoring over 100 points, a feat not accomplished since their 1989 national championship season. With No. 1 Purdue losing earlier in the day, Michigan made a compelling case for taking over the top spot in the AP Poll.
Yaxel Lendenborg added 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Trey McKenney contributed 13 points. Freshman Elliot Cadeau was also impressive, recording 11 points and dishing out nine assists. The Wolverines shot an astounding 60% from the field, including a red-hot 70% from beyond the arc in the second half.
Rutgers, despite solid performances from freshmen Harun Zrno and Kaden Powers—both of whom scored 13 points each—couldn’t keep up with Michigan’s offensive explosion. Zrno, who made his first career start, was one of the few bright spots for the Scarlet Knights, who have now lost five of their last six games after starting the season 4-0.
The game’s narrative was set early on, as Michigan struggled from three-point range, going 0-for-6 to start the game. However, they quickly made up for it by dominating inside, scoring 22 of their first 24 points in the paint. The Wolverines then caught fire, hitting five three-pointers in a span of just a few minutes, including back-to-back threes from Johnson and Lendenborg that pushed their lead to 39-19 with 4:51 remaining in the first half. By halftime, Michigan had a commanding 50-25 lead.
The second half was more of the same, with Michigan’s shooting touch continuing to burn bright. The Wolverines connected on seven of their first ten three-point attempts, further extending their lead and putting the game out of reach early in the period.
Rutgers, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm offensively. Dylan Grant, another bright spot for the Scarlet Knights, finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with Michigan’s onslaught. With this loss, Rutgers will need to regroup and refocus before heading into their next series of Big Ten games.
Seton Hall Secures Big Road Win Over Kansas State
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Seton Hall Pirates continued their strong start to the season with a decisive 78-67 victory over Kansas State on Saturday. Seton Hall, now 9-1 on the season, earned their second road win of the week, following a thrilling 77-61 win over Central Connecticut on Tuesday.
In a rare matchup between the two teams, Seton Hall built a comfortable lead thanks to a strong second-half surge. AJ Staton-McCray and Elijah Fisher were both pivotal in the win, each scoring 16 points to lead the Pirates. Staton-McCray struggled with his shooting, finishing just 3-of-15 from the field, but made up for it by hitting all nine of his free-throw attempts. Fisher was much more efficient, going 5-of-9 from the field.
Seton Hall closed the first half with a 9-3 run to take a 35-29 lead into the break. The Pirates came out strong in the second half, opening on a 22-6 run to extend their advantage to 51-35. Despite Kansas State’s attempt to rally, pulling within 62-54 with six minutes left, Seton Hall held firm and maintained their double-digit lead throughout the final stretch.
Najai Hines added 11 points, and Adam Clark chipped in with 10 for Seton Hall. The Pirates’ defense also played a key role in the victory, as Kansas State shot just 37% from the floor and missed 20 of their 35 free-throw attempts. Khamari McGriff led the Wildcats with 12 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Seton Hall’s balanced attack.
Kansas State, now 5-4 on the season, has lost four straight games. Seton Hall will be looking to carry this momentum into their upcoming matchups, as they continue their strong start to the season.
Looking Ahead
Both Rutgers and Seton Hall will look to build off these performances as the college basketball season moves forward. Rutgers, after a tough road trip, will aim to rebound and find their rhythm in upcoming Big Ten play. Seton Hall, on the other hand, continues to impress with their early-season success and will aim to continue their strong start as they enter the heart of their schedule.
For more on New Jersey college basketball and all of the exciting action happening in the state, check out the latest updates on New Jersey College Sports. Stay tuned as these teams battle for supremacy in their respective conferences and set the stage for an exciting winter of hoops.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers men’s basketball team had a rough week in the Big Ten conference. On Tuesday, the Scarlet Knights faced a tough opponent in the top-ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Rutgers fought hard but ultimately fell short, losing 81-65 at home. Then, on Saturday, the team traveled to Michigan, where they were handed another tough defeat, this time a 101-60 blowout. Despite these setbacks, Rutgers continues to face some of the toughest teams in the nation, and their conference play will only get more intense as the season progresses.
Seton Hall Pirates
It was a much more successful week for the Seton Hall Pirates, who came away with two key victories. On Tuesday, Seton Hall dominated Central Connecticut, securing a 77-61 win at Walsh Gymnasium. The Pirates’ momentum continued on Saturday as they notched an impressive road victory against Kansas State, defeating the Wildcats 78-67. Seton Hall’s performance this week showed they are in excellent form, and the team will look to build on this success as they move deeper into the season.
Monmouth Hawks
Monmouth University’s men’s basketball team earned a notable victory this week, defeating Princeton 63-58 on Wednesday. Jason Rivera-Torres led the way for the Hawks, contributing 20 points in the win. This was an important victory for Monmouth, which has been working to build momentum in its early-season campaign.
Princeton Tigers
The Princeton Tigers men’s basketball team faced a challenging week with two tough losses. First, they were narrowly beaten by Monmouth on Wednesday, 63-58. Then, on Saturday, they suffered another loss, falling to Loyola Chicago 73-68. Despite these setbacks, Princeton remains a solid team, and they’ll look to bounce back as the season progresses.
Rowan Profs
Rowan University took a hard loss on Saturday, falling to New Jersey City University (NJCU) 85-72 in their conference home opener. The Profs struggled throughout the game, but they will be looking to regroup and focus on their upcoming matchups in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
NJIT Highlanders
After wrapping up a challenging six-game road stretch, NJIT ended the week on a sour note with a loss to High Point earlier in the week. The Highlanders will look forward to returning home and regaining some form in the coming weeks.
Women’s Basketball: Rutgers and Seton Hall Face Stiff Challenges
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers women’s basketball team had a tough outing on Saturday, falling to No. 12 Iowa by a score of 79-36. It was a challenging matchup for Rutgers, but they continue to face some of the best teams in the country. The Scarlet Knights will be looking to regroup and adjust as they enter more conference play.
Princeton Tigers
The Princeton Tigers women’s team had an impressive week, securing two big victories. On Tuesday, they held off Seton Hall in a thrilling 82-78 win at Jadwin Gymnasium. The Tigers followed up that victory with another strong performance on Saturday, defeating Belmont 70-58 on the road. These wins have solidified Princeton’s position as a strong contender in the Ivy League this season.
Seton Hall Pirates
After the tough loss to Princeton on Tuesday, Seton Hall bounced back with a 70-51 win over Butler on Wednesday. The Pirates will continue their season with a game against NC State this Sunday, where they’ll look to keep the momentum going.
Monmouth Hawks
Monmouth’s women’s team had a solid week, securing a 77-68 win over NJIT earlier in the week. This victory gives the Hawks a much-needed boost as they look to keep improving throughout the rest of their season.
Stockton Ospreys
The Stockton University women’s basketball team fell to William Paterson 58-49 this week. Despite the loss, the Ospreys have shown potential this season and will look to bounce back in their next matchup.
Other Notable Sports News
- Track & Field: New Jersey City University (NJCU) had a standout performance at the Wesleyan Winter Invite, with several athletes earning top finishes. NJCU’s track and field teams continue to perform well in the early stages of the season and will be looking for more success in the coming months.
- Soccer: In soccer news, six players from Monmouth University were named to the CSC Division I Academic All-District team, showcasing the team’s talent both on the field and in the classroom. This achievement highlights Monmouth’s commitment to excellence in academics and athletics.
Looking Ahead to More Action
As we move further into the winter sports season, New Jersey’s college basketball teams will continue to battle in conference play and aim for strong finishes. The week of December 8-14 promises to bring more exciting action, with key matchups across both the men’s and women’s basketball circuits.
For more updates on New Jersey’s college sports teams, including detailed results and upcoming game previews, be sure to check out the latest news in the world of college sports in New Jersey. With so much to look forward to, it’s shaping up to be an exciting season for New Jersey’s student-athletes.
