Rutgers Defeats Penn State 74-62 in NCAAB Clash
Sunday, March 8, 2026, 12:00 PM ET · Jersey Mike’s Arena
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 74, Penn State Nittany Lions 62, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won Penn State Nittany Lions vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
Rutgers Scarlet Knights beat Penn State Nittany Lions 74-62 at Jersey Mike’s Arena on March 8, 2026.
Who was favored in Penn State Nittany Lions vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
Rutgers Scarlet Knights were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -205 (about 67% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights secured a 74-62 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jersey Mike’s Arena. This win marked a crucial moment for Rutgers, who improved their record to 14-18, while Penn State fell to 12-20. The game showcased the Scarlet Knights' ability to capitalize on their home court advantage, as they have historically performed better at home compared to their away games.
Rutgers entered the game with a recent record of 3-7 over their last ten games, having averaged 73.0 points scored while allowing 78.8 points per game. Their last five games revealed a slight improvement, with an average of 74.8 points scored against 77.4 allowed. In contrast, Penn State also struggled with a record of 3-7 in their last ten games, averaging 69.8 points scored and 83.4 points allowed. Their recent form has seen them score 68.2 points while allowing 83.6 points in their last five outings.
At home, Rutgers had a record of 1-3 in their last four games, while Penn State's away record stood at 1-4. This context added weight to Rutgers' performance, as they had previously defeated Penn State 85-72 in their last encounter on February 18, 2026. This victory further solidified Rutgers' head-to-head advantage, leading the series 2-1 over the last three meetings.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant player absences for either team, allowing both squads to field their best lineups. The conditions at Jersey Mike’s Arena were conducive to a competitive game, with both teams eager to improve their standings.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Rutgers favored with a spread of -4.5 and a moneyline of -205, while Penn State was listed at +170. The total for the game was set at 149.5, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair.
As the game unfolded, Rutgers maintained control, with key moments including a layup by Ivan Juric and a significant three-point shot from Tariq Francis that extended their lead. The Scarlet Knights executed well down the stretch, with free throws from Jamichael Davis and Mason Blackwood sealing the win.
Overall, Rutgers' ability to leverage their home advantage and maintain composure in critical moments led them to a solid victory against Penn State, showcasing their potential as they move forward in the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | RUTG -4.5 | 149.5 o -115 / u -105 | Penn State Nittany Lions +170 · Rutgers Scarlet Knights -205 |
Leaders
- PointsTariq Francis18Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- AssistsJamichael Davis4Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- ReboundsDarren Buchanan Jr.13Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- PointsIvan Juric16Penn State Nittany Lions
- AssistsDominick Stewart5Penn State Nittany Lions
- ReboundsJosh Reed8Penn State Nittany Lions
Recent form
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last 10: 3-7Streak L173 scored · 78.8 allowed per game1-3 at home
- L87-91at Michigan State SpartansMar 6
- W69-65at Maryland TerrapinsMar 1
- L72-79vs Washington HuskiesFeb 24
- L61-80at Minnesota Golden GophersFeb 21
- W85-72at Penn State Nittany LionsFeb 18
- W68-57vs Maryland TerrapinsFeb 15
- L68-80vs Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 7
- L66-98at UCLA BruinsFeb 4
- L75-78at USC TrojansFeb 1
- L79-88vs Michigan State SpartansJan 27
Penn State Nittany Lions
Last 10: 3-7Streak L169.8 scored · 83.4 allowed per game1-4 away
- L62-94vs Ohio State BuckeyesMar 5
- W71-69vs Iowa HawkeyesFeb 28
- L64-87at Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 21
- L72-85vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsFeb 18
- L72-83at Oregon DucksFeb 14
- W63-60at Washington HuskiesFeb 12
- L75-77vs USC TrojansFeb 8
- L69-110at Michigan WolverinesFeb 5
- W77-75vs Minnesota Golden GophersFeb 1
- L73-94at Northwestern WildcatsJan 30
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Penn State Nittany Lions | Rutgers Scarlet Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 23-56 | 27-61 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 3-22 | 6-19 |
| Three-point % | 14 | 32 |
| Free throws | 13-22 | 14-17 |
| Free throw % | 59 | 82 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 29 |
| Assists | 11 | 16 |
| Steals | 6 | 5 |
| Blocks | 5 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 14 | 22 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 36 |
| Fouls | 16 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 26 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 3 | 94 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half28-49Kayden Mingo makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dominick Stewart assists)
- 2nd Half30-49Kayden Mingo makes layup
- 2nd Half30-51Darren Buchanan Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half32-51Freddie Dilione V makes layup (Dominick Stewart assists)
- 2nd Half34-51Freddie Dilione V makes layup
- 2nd Half34-52Emmanuel Ogbole makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half34-54Lino Mark makes driving layup (Kaden Powers assists)
- 2nd Half35-54Freddie Dilione V makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-54Freddie Dilione V makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half38-54Josh Reed makes layup (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half38-56Lino Mark makes layup
- 2nd Half38-58Emmanuel Ogbole makes 5-foot dunk (Lino Mark assists)
- 2nd Half41-58Josh Reed makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half42-58Josh Reed makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-58Josh Reed makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-60Chris Nwuli makes layup (Jamichael Davis assists)
- 2nd Half43-61Chris Nwuli makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half43-63Jamichael Davis makes 13-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half44-63Josh Reed makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-63Josh Reed makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-63Mason Blackwood makes driving layup (Ivan Juric assists)
- 2nd Half47-65Chris Nwuli makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half49-65Kayden Mingo makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-65Ivan Juric makes 22-foot jumper (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half51-66Jamichael Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-67Jamichael Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-67Ivan Juric makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-67Ivan Juric makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-67Ivan Juric makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-67Ivan Juric makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-68Tariq Francis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-69Tariq Francis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-69Ivan Juric makes layup
- 2nd Half57-72Tariq Francis makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half58-72Ivan Juric makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-72Ivan Juric makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-73Jamichael Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-74Jamichael Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-74Mason Blackwood makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-74Kayden Mingo makes driving layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Rutgers Scarlet Knights, below favours Penn State Nittany Lions.
Venue
- Jersey Mike’s ArenaPiscataway, NJ
- Attendance8000
- OfficialsMike Littlewood, Larry Scirotto, Bart Lenox
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond