It was a promising performance from the Knights – they took No. 4 Ohio State to the final bout and were inches away from earning their first-ever win over one of the Big Ten blue-blood programs.

No. 16 senior 125-pounder Dean Peterson started things fast against No. 10 Brendan McCrone, jumping out to an 11-2 lead after the first period. Peterson ultimately won 11-4, earning his 13th straight win, fourth-ranked victory of the season and second consecutive top-10 win.

No. 17 senior 133-pounder Dylan Shawver followed with his toughest bout of the season so far against No. 9 Nic Bouzakis, who Shawver defeated 5-4 in last season’s dual meet match at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The bout was just as intense this time around, with Shawver landing a crucial takedown late in the third period to win 4-3 for his second-ranked win of the season. 

Sophomore 141-pounder Max Hermes filled in for No. 16 senior 141-pounder Joseph Olivieri and had to face No. 1 Jesse Mendez, the reigning national champion last season at 149 pounds. The bout was extremely one-sided, as Mendez claimed a third-period tech fall to give the Buckeyes their first victory of the dual, but still trailed after three bouts.

No. 12 Dylan D’Emilio was upset by senior 149-pounder Michael Cetta in last year’s match. This time around, No. 24 senior 149-pounder Andrew Clark kept it close with D’Emilio for three periods. The bout went to tiebreakers, but D’Emilio’s late escape proved decisive in his 2-1 win, handing the Buckeyes their first lead of the night.

The tough bouts continued for Rutgers as No. 31 freshman 157-pounder Conner Harer faced Sammy Sasso, who was ranked No. 11 at 165 pounds before moving down to the 157-pound weight class. Sasso won 3-2, but Harer battled until the final seconds of the bout. 

With five bouts down, Ohio State led 11-6 at the intermission. Goodale spoke on Peterson’s and Shawver’s upset win and was impressed with what he saw.

“They’re just wrestling really, really hard right now, incredible competition,” he said. “We know that those are two huge matchups – those two wins go a long way come postseason so just fired up for the way they competed.”

Up next at 165 pounds, freshman 165-pounder Andrew Barbosa made his first start since Nov. 17, 2024. It was Barbosa versus e’Than Birden, a battle of the freshman. In his Big Ten debut, Barbosa won 2-1 in the second period of tiebreakers – the fourth bout that was decided by 1 point.

No. 23 graduate student 174-pounder Jackson Turley couldn’t build off of Barbosa’s win – he lost 3-2 to No. 9 Carson Kharchla in a tight bout.

Down 14-9 with three bouts left, the Knights needed to win their last three matches to earn a statement victory. 

No. 27 sophomore 184-pounder Shane Cartagena-Walsh again got the starting nod at 184 pounds over junior 184-pounder Brian Soldano for the match against No. 14 Ryder Rogotzke. Soldano pinned Rogotzke last season at Jersey Mike’s Arena, but Cartagena-Walsh defeated Rogotzke via a 6-4 decision this season. It was Cartagena Walsh’s fifth-ranked win and 16th overall.

Rutgers trailed 14-12 with two bouts to go, meaning No. 18 senior 197-pounder John Poznanski needed to beat Seth Shumate to keep his team alive. Poznanski did just that in dramatic fashion, landing a last-second takedown to defeat Shumate 5-4. 

With one bout to go, the Knights led 15-14. No. 8 graduate student 285-pounder Yaraslau Slavikouski versus No. 7 Nick Feldman would decide the winner of the dual meet. But Feldman landed a late third-period takedown to defeat Slavikouski and give the Buckeyes a narrow 17-15 victory. 

Rutgers will return home to wrestle Wisconsin on Sunday. The match will begin at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM. 

"We competed our tails off and we were a takedown away from winning tonight," Goodale said. "I am so into the effort from our guys and I know how bad they wanted to win that one. There are a lot of good things to take out of tonight. We're absolutely getting better, and that's pretty cool to see."

For more updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Matthew Mangam's work, follow @MatthewMangam on X.

McMiller made an instant impact, scoring 7 points in the first quarter on 3-of-7 shooting, but Rutgers trailed 16-14 after the first 10 minutes.

McMiller continued to lead the Knights in the second quarter with 10 points, including a made three-pointer from the Jersey Mike's Arena logo. With the clock winding down in the second, McMiller dribbled past two Nebraska defenders and put up a contested floater, which hit off the glass and went in as the buzzer sounded. The crowd was on their feet, and Rutgers kept it close with a good Cornhuskers team, down 36-31 at halftime.

The Knights had a strong third quarter and clawed back into the game. Midway through the quarter, senior forward Destiny Adams stole the ball and scored a layup to cut the deficit to 1. Minutes later, McMiller tied the game at 42-42 with a dribble into a mid-range jumper. She spun through multiple Nebraska players before laying in a high-arcing ball to take a 2-point lead. This 6-0 Rutgers resulted in its first lead of the game. But the score was tied at 48 heading into the final quarter, with both teams looking to come away with the win.

The fourth quarter went back-and-forth, but a Cornhuskers 9-0 run gave them a 64-57 lead, which proved to be enough for their third straight win. Nebraska, who outrebounded the Knights 49-32 for 17 second-chance points, immensely impacted the result.

McMiller's career-best 33 points came on 14-of-28 shooting and 5-of-14 from three-point range. She also had two rebounds and two assists. Adams finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. It seems like McMiller is back with the team after missing the last two games for what was deemed a decision by head coach Coquese Washington.

"She's back with our team, we're happy to have her back," Washington said. "She's back on our team and back at practice."

Rutgers will remain at home on Wednesday, and it will be looking for its first Big Ten win this season against Michigan State. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.

"I thought we did a lot of good things defensively," Washington said. "We were disruptive and then sometimes the second and third shots that (Nebraska) got was just a problem. Conversely, for us, we didn't get enough second shots. We didn't get enough offensive rebounds and (Nebraska)'s size had something to do with that."

Here are some takeaways from No. 16 Rutgers’ sixth straight win. 

Anthony White falls to Tyler Lillard once again

No. 26 senior 165-pounder Anthony White and Tyler Lillard were not strangers to each other before Friday’s dual. Lillard previously defeated White by sudden victory in the quarterfinals of Midlands in late December before going on to win the individual title at 165 pounds. 

But this bout wasn’t as close as the prior one – Lillard won 7-2 and looked completely dominant, handing White his third straight defeat. 

Jackson Turley wastes no time

No. 23 graduate student 174-pounder Jackson Turley went up against Derek Gilcher in what was an unexpected bout – Gilcher was ranked No. 24 at 165 pounds heading into the match but made his first start at the 174-pound weight class.

But Gilcher’s debut didn’t go as planned – Turley pinned him in 50 seconds, picking up his fourth fall of the season. 

Shane Cartagena-Walsh impresses 

Head coach Scott Goodale handed No. 27 sophomore 184-pounder Shane Cartagena-Walsh the starting nod at 184 pounds over junior 184-pounder Brian Soldano. And it paid off.

Cartagena-Walsh earned his fourth-ranked win of the season, narrowly defeating No. 32 Donnell Washington 3-2. 

John Poznanski, Yaraslau Slavikouski and Dean Peterson get crucial ranked wins

No. 18 senior 197-pounder John Poznanski was still searching for his first signature win of the season heading into the match against No. 24 Indiana. That search came to an end against No. 23 Gabe Sollars, as Poznanski impressed with a 4-2 victory. Poznanski also avenged himself after falling to Sollars 9-5 in the semifinals of Midlands. 

No. 8 graduate student 285-pounder Yaraslau Slavikouski also avenged his previous Midlands semifinal defeat to No. 23 Jacob Bullock. Slavikouski grabbed his second-ranked win of the season, defeating Bullock 2-1 in two tie-breaker periods. 

No. 16 senior 125-pounder Dean Peterson, the 125-pound weight class winner at Midlands, faced No. 23 Jacob Moran after defeating him in the semifinals of the tournament. Peterson won 6-2, extending his record against Moran to 3-0 and has now won his last 12 matches.

The victory was also Goodale's 230th in his 18th season on the Banks.

The Knights will have one day off before they wrestle Ohio State on Sunday. The dual will begin at 6 p.m. and be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

For more updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Matthew Mangam's work, follow @MatthewMangam on X.

What went wrong?

First-half turnover struggles

The Knights started this game with no continuity on offense. Through 8 minutes of play, Rutgers had an astounding nine turnovers and just two made field goals. They eventually found a bit more success in the final 10 minutes of the half but still trailed 33-24 at halftime, winding up with 12 turnovers. With that many turnovers in 30 possessions, the Knights’ turnover rate was at a whopping 40 percent in the half. 

Winning basketball games is tough if nearly half of your possessions end in the ball going the other way off a turnover.

Rutgers cleaned it up in the second half, turning the ball over just four times, with two of those coming in the final minute or so when the game was out of reach. The 16 turnovers tied their season-high, matching the tally in their loss against Texas A&M earlier this season.

“When you turn the ball over alarmingly the first six-seven possessions of the game, it puts you in a bind,” said head coach Steve Pikiell.

On the other hand, the Boilermakers (12-4, 4-1) turned it over just eight times.

Harper still sluggish

Freshman guard Dylan Harper missed last week’s game against Indiana sick with the flu, then returned on Monday against Wisconsin only to look sluggish and play just 15 minutes. Harper was again questionable coming into Thursday’s matchup against No. 20 Purdue but ended up playing 28 minutes. He still did not look like his usual self, though, finishing with just 6 points on nine shots. It looked as though Harper lacked his usual quick first step and unreal start-and-go ability.

“It’s been a journey … he’s still a work in progress,” Pikiell said. “I’m proud he gave a hard effort today, I hope he can get back to himself.”

After the game, the Boilermakers' head coach, Matt Painter, emphasized Harper's importance for the Knights, drawing comparison to how vital star guard Braden Smith is to his own team.

“If (Rutgers) was healthy for Wisconsin and healthy for Purdue, we could be talking about two very different games," Painter said. "We're very fortunate to have played them at this time ... how does this game unfold if Braden Smith has the flu?"

Can’t finish big runs

With approximately 11 minutes left in the game, graduate student guard Tyson Acuff nailed a three to cut the deficit to just 5 points, forcing Purdue to call a timeout. 

“That’s a momentum shift, we've got to build off that,” Acuff said

Coming out of the timeout, though, the Boilermakers rattled off a quick 9-0 run and pushed their lead to 14. 

It was 46-41 after the Acuff three, and the game finished at 68-50, meaning Rutgers gave up a 22-9 run to end the game. The home crowd was into it, and the players were feeling it, but in the blink of an eye, the Knights lost focus and Purdue built an insurmountable lead. 

This is a recurring theme of this season, as Rutgers also had done a solid job chipping away in the second half of its previous two losses but could not finish the job in either outing.

“When you work your tail off and get a game to (5) points, that’s when you’ve got to capitalize,” Pikiell said. “We’ve got to make some timely plays, we’ve got to make some timely stops and we haven’t been able to do that.”

Freshman forward Ace Bailey finished with a game-high 17 points but did not shoot the ball well at 5-for-15. Acuff was the only other Knight to reach double digits as he finished with 10 points. Freshman center Lathan Sommerville made his first career start and finished with just 2 points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. Freshman forward Dylan Grant made some solid c contributions for the second straight game as he went 3-for-3 from the field and finished with 7 points.

Rutgers is right back at it at home on Monday against another formidable opponent UCLA.

“There is not one thing you can pinpoint. First game, we did not rebound enough against Indiana. This time, we turned the ball over too much,” Pikiell said. “We plug one hole sometimes then another one opens up … We don’t have a lot of time to figure it out.”

For more updates on the Rutgers men’s basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Camden Markel's work, follow @CamdenMarkel on X.

Another player Rutgers was without was freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller, who was benched against USC after an altercation with a teammate. McMiller did make the trip to Williams Arena and was not listed on the team’s availability report, yet she did not participate in the contest. The Knights have seen their offense sputter without the team’s leading sorcerer, and concerns amongst fans continue to grow with the uncertainty surrounding McMiller’s situation.  

It was another slow start for Rutgers, who managed just 11 points in the opening frame and 23 points in the first half on 9-for-35 shooting. The Knights have now failed to score 30 points in the first half of a game since their 86-48 win over Wagner 24 days ago. In the five games since, Rutgers has managed just one win and is still looking for its first conference victory on the season.

“We just got to keep trying to get better in the little things, said head coach Coquese Washington. “Scoring has been a problem for us the last few games, so we’ve got to figure out a way that we can get more points on the board. Felt like we had a lot of good shots tonight that just didn't fall."

The second half was not much better for the Knights, managing 27 points, with the only real offensive production coming from senior forward Destiny Adams with 15 points. Graduate student guard Awa Sidibe and Adams were the only players to record multiple made field goals in the second half for Rutgers.

“We have to get more contributions out of everybody on the roster and not just be so reliant on Destiny,” Washington said. “She gets a lot of attention and rightfully so because she's so talented.”

Adams would go on to score a game-high 28 points in the loss on approximately 42 percent shooting from the field and a near-perfect 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. It was also a historic night for Adams, who tallied her 1000th career point, to go along with her seventh double-double of the season.

Four different players tallied double figures for the Golden Gophers (16-1, 4-1), led by Amaya Battle, with 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field and an effective 50 percent from beyond the arc. As a team, Minnesota shot approximately 42 percent from the field and outscored the Knights in 3 of 4 quarters. 

Rutgers has faced some really tough opponents to start conference play, with its last four Big Ten opponents having just two combined losses and 59 combined wins. Unfortunately for the Knights, things do not get any easier with the Big Ten featuring some of the top teams in all of women’s basketball.   

Rutgers is back at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Sunday to take another strong team in Nebraska, looking to snap a season-long four-game skid. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.  

For more updates on the Rutgers women's basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X.

The announcement marked the closure of a Title VI investigation of the University that initially opened more than a year ago.

In a 15-page resolution letter, OCR expressed concern about the University's responses to these cases, which OCR wrote were insufficient and inconsiderate of campus safety on a larger scale. This created a "hostile environment," according to OCR — a phrase defined as a compilation of incidents of harassment "so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person's ability to participate in or benefit from a recipient's education program or activity." 

An additional resolution agreement outlined actions that OCR determined for the University in an effort to address current and future cases of bias and discrimination on campus.

"Rutgers University has committed to resolution terms that will address serious Title VI noncompliance indicated in their records … that appear to have created a hostile environment in University campuses, inconsistent with the University's federal civil rights obligations," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon said in the release.

The Daily Targum reviewed incidents from OCR's report that took place after Oct. 7, 2023, as well as those of similar investigations conducted at 11 other colleges and universities. The claims varied from controversial statements on social media to federally charged hate crimes.

OCR makes calls on Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian discrimination

Between July 2023 and June 2024, the University received 147 reports of Islamophobia and discrimination against Palestinian, Muslim and Arab individuals.

OCR broke down some of the allegations made in a 57-page Title VI complaint of Palestinian, Muslim and Arab bias and discrimination from April 2024 that came approximately two weeks after a hate crime on the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU).

One such claim included an alleged incident at Rutgers—Newark in which a Palestinian student described being intentionally hit by a moving car's rear-view mirror in a University parking lot. OCR explained that the University made a decision on the matter solely relying upon the Rutgers University Police Department's (RUPD) judgment of the surveillance footage without further verification, though OCR did not comment on this incident beyond making mention of it. 

Ultimately, OCR did determine that the University exercised unequal treatment in a case where flyers and memorials related to Palestine were removed from Rutgers Law School while similar items unrelated to Palestine were not previously taken down. 

OCR also criticized the University's responses to cases of doxxing and harassment against students of Palestinian, Muslim, Arab and South Asian descent. One student was charged in this case, whereas students who agreed to the doxxing were not charged. 

OCR gives determinations on antisemitism, anti-Israeli bias

Out of 293 claims of antisemitism and anti-Israeli discrimination made between July 2023 and June 2024, the University detailed 104 incidents across the past two academic years. 

The reports included a November 2023 criminal charge around an online death threat against and doxxing of an Israeli member of the Jewish-interest fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi. While the charged student was not expelled, OCR called upon Rutgers administrators to meet with them and discuss the impacts of their action with further guidance from OCR throughout the process, according to the resolution agreement. 

Allegations also extended to social media, where the events of Oct. 7, 2023, were denied in one case and praised in another. In the former — a post by a student group — University administrators informed a class to restrain from posting their views on the subject online, and in the latter — a post by a professor — the University determined that the post did not reference the University or receive any reports from students or faculty, but it is unknown how the University officially responded.

OCR judged that certain protests, such as the encampment during the Spring 2024 semester, violated University policy and were also a discriminatory hindrance to Jewish community members. Including the encampment, OCR concluded that, in all but one case, the University did not attempt to make amends with Jewish and Israeli students affected by discrimination on campus. 

In response to the Targum's request for comment, a University spokesperson wrote that it does not publicly disclose information about bias investigations but maintained the University's stance against all forms of hate and intolerance and its willingness to cooperate with OCR.

OCR identifies similar issues across other campuses

OCR has opened more than 70 investigations into higher education institutions across the U.S. since Oct. 7, 2023. It has since concluded 12 investigations, including that of Rutgers. 

Most reports included some form of discriminatory insults that often relied on stereotypes, with multiple institutions reporting Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students being called "terrorists." While many incidents have been insults or verbal threats, some have taken on physical manifestations, such as a brick being thrown at the window of a Jewish fraternity house at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in 2020, OCR revealed.

Some institutions also saw vandalism in the form of hate symbols and damage to religious or cultural objects. Rutgers, Drexel University and UIUC saw the illustrations of swastikas on campus buildings and the vandalism of mezuzahs, a front door decoration in Jewish households. At Rutgers, the hate crime at the CILRU additionally exposed damage to a Palestinian flag and Islamic art pieces.

Several universities, including Rutgers, particularly struggled to handle incidents of bias on social media. Notably, administration at the University of Michigan determined that social media incidents are "largely going to be protected as free speech" and can typically only be pursued through informal processes, according to the University of Michigan's OCR investigation. 

Staffing and training are also among the issues that arose across multiple university campuses. In the case of Brown University, OCR found that different Brown University administrators displayed inconsistencies in their responses to reports. 

Furthermore, a complaint against the City University of New York (CUNY) allegedly claimed that the university lacks system-wide training against antisemitism and does not track reports of antisemitism. OCR corroborated that the CUNY system does not have a standardized antisemitism training program but did not appear to support or deny the claim about incident tracking in its resolution letter. 

But some universities that underwent investigations also received praise from OCR in other aspects of their administrative processes. Brown University, for example, saw positive feedback on its measuring of campus climate. Additionally, Temple University — which employed a special advisor on antisemitism and formed a Blue Ribbon Commission on Antisemitism and University Responses in 2022 — was commended for its swift and appropriate responses to many, but not all, allegations of discrimination. 

Investigation paves way for amendments to U. policy

OCR gave Rutgers nine action items for the near future in order to maintain its Title VI compliance. If the University does not follow through on the provisions in the established manner and time, it risks further escalation to the U.S. Department of Justice or loss of federal funding, per OCR policy, a Department of Education spokesperson informed the Targum.

Several items were related to the University's adoption of increased transparency measures in its Policies and Procedures, such as an explanation of student resources and the investigatory process, as well as a contact for reporting incidents. OCR also ordered an audit of incident reports related to discrimination against Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim, Arab and South Asian individuals at the University. 

Additional changes include discrimination training for students, employees, internal investigators and RUPD, as well as listening sessions and surveys of the campus climate. It also instructed the University to add a series of statements regarding Title VI compliance, including examples of discrimination, to existing policy.

In a statement, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5), who has been particularly vocal about antisemitism in New Jersey and at higher education institutions, expressed gratitude for OCR's investigation and the University's adoption of the actions set forth by OCR's resolution agreement.

"OCR looks forward to the change that will come for Rutgers University as a result of this agreement and to ongoing work with the University to ensure its compliance," Lhamon further commented in the announcement.

No. 16 Rutgers sent its entire lineup to the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Dec. 29, 2024, and Dec. 30, 2024. The Knights finished second with 147 team points via a program-record nine place winners and senior 125-pounder Dean Peterson's individual title. It’s the most team points scored at Midlands in program history and its best result since 2017. 

“We really wanted to win that tournament – we left a lot of matches out there,” said head coach Scott Goodale. “My thought process is closing out matches up and down the lineup is something we have to be better at.” 

Peterson, who has now won his last 11 bouts after suffering an injury against NC State in November, used a different approach en route to winning his Midlands title. 

“It was really just about slowing the matches in my mind and not thinking about it too much,” Peterson said. “I was having an issue where I think I was thinking too much about how I was gonna set up my moves, how I was gonna get up to my attacks and I kind of just let it fly this weekend. I slowed the match down and got to my points and when I stayed on my offense, I scored. I’m gonna keep that going into the season.”

With Midlands in the rearview mirror, the season is now in full swing. Rutgers will begin Big Ten play against Indiana on Friday night at Wilkinson Hall. The Hoosiers (4-1, 0-1) lost their conference opener 34-3 to Illinois in early December after starting the season 4-0. No. 24 Indiana may have fell flat in its last match, but it boasts a strong lineup with five ranked wrestlers.

The Knights, on the other hand, have won their last five matches and have finally figured out their starting lineup, except for one weight class: 184 pounds.

Junior 184-pounder Brian Soldano and sophomore 184-pounder Shane Cartagena-Walsh placed fourth and second at Midlands, respectively. They both lost to Reece Heller of Pittsburgh, making Goodale’s decision on who will be the starter even harder. 

“They both lost to the same guy so nothing really got solved on my end,” he said. “(Cartagena-Walsh), we’re winning that match, got to figure out a way to close that out and that’ll come with maturity, he’s a redshirt freshman. I liked the way he competed all weekend long and he was really motivated.”

As for the rest of the lineup, senior 149-pounder Michael Cetta has now moved up to the 157-pound weight class, giving senior 149-pounder Andrew Clark the starting role at 149 pounds and freshman 149-pounder Alex Nini the backup spot when called upon. 

“(Cetta’s) really gotta work himself into that weight, it’s kind of new, and he needs more mat time up at that weight,” Goodale said. 

Goodale revealed that freshman 157-pounder Conner Harer will remain the starter at 157 pounds. Harer has a 10-4 record thus far in his rookie season and has one ranked win.

Senior 165-pounder Anthony White – a 2023 NCAA qualifier – will retain his starting spot at 165 pounds for the second straight season. The backup to White will be freshman 165-pounder Andrew Barbosa, who made his collegiate debut in the Toms River duals in November, impressed that day with two wins, one of them being against a ranked opponent. 

After Friday’s dual, Rutgers will have a tough matchup against Ohio State on Sunday evening. The Buckeyes (8-0, 0-0) are the second-best team in the Big Ten and will be the Knights’ toughest opponent yet this season. 

With Rutgers determined to take the next step as a program this season, a win against No. 5 Ohio State would be a huge stepping stone. The Knights have not defeated a top-10 team since 2019 and are winless against the Buckeyes in 11 meetings. 

The dual against Indiana will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus, while Sunday’s match against Ohio State will start at 6 p.m. and be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

For more updates on the Rutgers wrestling team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Matthew Mangam's work, follow @MatthewMangam on X.

But the Scarlet Knights (8-7, 1-3) fell 75-63 to the Badgers (12-3, 2-2) in a difficult game offensively. Harper, who was sick last week against the Hoosiers (12-3, 3-1), started but only played 15 minutes and did not look fully healthy, finishing with four rebounds and no points. Freshman forward Ace Bailey had 9 points on 3-of-16 shooting and fouled out of the game late in the second half – it’s safe to say the superstars had rough nights. 

The game was always going to be a fight. Wisconsin was coming off a 116-85 thumping of Iowa, the program’s second-most overall points scored. The Badgers broke records in the victory, hitting a Big Ten-best 21 three-pointers, with John Blackwell going 6-of-10 from beyond the arc for a career-best 32 points. Rutgers allowed Blackwell to score 21 points but went 1-4 from three-point range.

Wisconsin started on the front foot, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and keeping the Knights scoreless for the first 3 minutes, ending with a jumper from Bailey, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following a career-best 39 points against Indiana last time out. 

The shooting struggles for Rutgers continued, going on several more scoring droughts. The Badgers went on a 13-2 run to lead 27-13 at the 6:59 mark of the first half because Wisconsin capitalized on points in the paint and layups. 

Despite the Badgers hitting 11 of their last 12 field goal attempts, the Knights were able to cut the deficit to 9 points at halftime, trailing 43-34. With Bailey not playing the final 9:15 minutes of the first due to foul trouble and Harper not looking like himself, graduate student guard Tyson Acuff stepped up with 11 points in the half. Freshman forward Dylan Grant had 5 points, including a three and junior guard Jordan Derkack also helped out in the scoring category.

Rutgers continued to dig itself out of its grave to begin the second half, with Bailey and Acuff hitting threes. The Knights trailed by three, 60-57, with 6:45 to go but could not take advantage of their second-chance opportunities from crashing the offensive glass. Wisconsin hit its crucial shots down the stretch en route to its fourth straight win.

Acuff was the lone bright spot offensively for Rutgers in the loss. He had 17 points and hit three three-pointers. Grant, who played a season-high 16 minutes, finished with 8 points and a team-high two blocks. 

“If that’s what my team needs me to do, if I need to score the basketball in order for us to win games then that’s what I’ll do for my team,” Acuff said. “If they need me to pass the basketball or rebound the basketball, that’s what I’ll do. Whatever it takes to get the win and keep these guys going, keep us confident.”

Grant echoed a similar sentiment, displaying a do-it-all attitude.

“Gotta stay hard confident, play hard in practice and then translate it into the game,” he said. “Just gotta stay ready – whenever my number is called, if it’s not called that’s fine but if it is I just gotta go out there and play the best I can.”

Rutgers is now 0-5 against Quad 1 opponents and needs to string some wins together fast to play postseason basketball. With a poor record in the nonconference slate, the Knights must bounce back in Big Ten play quickly. 

Rutgers will remain at home for Thursday night's highly anticipated game against Purdue. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox Sports and 88.7 WRSU-FM. 

“It’s a 40-minute league and I gotta get these guys to play 40 minutes,” said head coach Steve Pikiell. “I appreciate the effort of (Grant and Acuff), they’ve been really good in practice and they fought the whole time that they were in the game. But we got to play better.”

For more updates on the Rutgers men’s basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Matthew Mangam's work, follow @MatthewMangam on X.

With the way JuJu Watkins and freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller have played to start the season, many fans had this matchup circled on their calendars. Unfortunately, hours before the game, McMiller took to social media to announce that she would not be playing in the contest, which was said to be a decision made by head coach Coquese Washington. 

“The thing with Kiyomi is, we are going to keep it internal,” Washington said.

This comes after McMiller played just 24 minutes and did not play for most of the second half against Maryland. The Silver Spring, Maryland, native’s homecoming game was less than ideal, with 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting and a team-high seven turnovers. 

Despite not seeing the marquee matchup everyone was looking for, the Trojans (14-1, 4-0) still put on a show for fans. In just the second meeting between the two programs, No. 4 USC dominated in every aspect of the game. 

On offense, the Trojans converted on more than double the amount of field goals that Rutgers did and, at one point, had more field goals made than the Knights did points. On the defensive end of the ball, USC doubled Rutgers on the glass with 56 rebounds, 26 coming via offensive rebounds. 

Watkins led the scoring with 23 points and 14 rebounds, followed by Kennedy Smith with 19 points, shooting 6-for-9 from the field. The more impressive aspect of USC’s performance was its defense, which held the Knights to 14 points in the first half and just 24 points in the first three quarters of the game. 

It was a bad performance offensively for Rutgers, only managing 42 points, which is the least amount of points scored in a loss in coach Washington’s tenure. Despite the team’s performance, senior forward Destiny Adams and graduate student forward JoJo Lacey stepped up in the absence of McMiller, scoring a combined 24 points. 

The turnover bug plagued the Knights once again, committing 27 giveaways, leading to 38 points for the Trojans. On the other end, Rutgers did force 17 turnovers but could not capitalize, managing just 6 points from the takeaways. 

“Going forward, a number of things has to change,” Washington said. “We got to take care of the ball better. I think we have to have better execution in all phases, whether that's screening, cutting, and then making shots… On all fronts, we have to execute better on the offensive end of the floor.”  

The Knights have a lot to work out on the floor. Most importantly, the offense has to improve at scoring in the first half of games and eliminating quarters where they can only muster single-digit point totals. Three games in a row, Rutgers has had such quarters and in each of the last three games, the Knights could not come out on top. 

Rutgers has a quick turnaround as it hits the road to take on another stout opponent in Minnesota. Wednesday’s tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.              

For more updates on the Rutgers women's basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X.

Rutgers was without the nation’s fourth-leading scorer, freshman guard Dylan Harper, who reportedly felt under the weather. The Knights needed some players to step up in his absence, but none did, aside from freshman wing Ace Bailey. Here are some takeaways from the Rutgers loss.

No help for Ace Bailey

Bailey played 38 of the game’s 40 minutes and finished with an astounding 39 points on 16-of-29 shooting in one of the wildest tough shot-making performances you’ll ever see. He also blocked four shots, notched one steal and grabbed eight boards. Bailey essentially didn’t have an inch of space all night long, yet somehow managed to shoot 55 percent and knock down a plethora of near-impossible shots. Outside of Bailey, though, the Knights scored just 35 points on 11-of-32 shooting. 

Without Harper, it presented major opportunities for some other guys to score the ball, such as redshirt senior guard Jeremiah Williams, graduate student guard Tyson Acuff, and even sophomore guard Jamichael Davis and junior guard Jordan Derkack. But none of them reached 10 points or shot better than 50 percent from the field. The combination of fifth-year wing PJ Hayes IV and graduate student forward Zach Martini shot 0 for 7 from three and scored 0 points. Junior center Emmanuel Ogbole scored 0 points and grabbed three rebounds in 10 minutes.

Freshman center Lathan Sommerville had a decent outing with 8 points off the bench.

There was no semblance of an orchestrated offense the entire night, with it often being Bailey isolations leading to tough shots, which, of course, Bailey made many of. But there were not many sets being run on the offensive end and things looked messy all game. The players did not step up, but the coaching did not help set the team up for success either.

“I’m more concerned about our rebounding and our defense,” said head coach Steve Pikiell when asked about the lack of help from players not named Bailey.

Rebounding and defensive nightmare

The biggest downfall in this game for Rutgers was the second-chance points given up. Indiana grabbed a whopping 18 offensive rebounds, leading to 34 second-chance points. The Knights were often caught out of position and did not put forth the effort to match the Hoosiers’. 

Oumar Ballo dominated Rutgers down low with 17 points and 12 rebounds, seven being offensive. The center position looked to be an issue coming into the season for the Knights, and the issue is getting exacerbated with each passing game that they continue to allow offensive boards. 

Rutgers ran a zone defense at times, but it led to too many open baseline cuts for Indian, and once these cuts drew a paint defender to help out, it opened up the passing lanes for the Hoosiers and led to open layups. 

Indiana came in as the third-worst three-point shooting team in the Big Ten but completely exploded from beyond the arc with 12 makes on 27 attempts. Lackluster closeouts and rotations by the Knights left a lot of space for the Hoosiers’ shooters, and the weak rebounding led to broken second-chance plays where Indiana found itself wide open for threes.

Rutgers’ Big Ten gauntlet continues on Monday with a home game against Wisconsin, followed by two more home games against Purdue and UCLA. With the Knights’ current season outlook, all three games might be considered must-win for them to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament or even the Big Ten Tournament.

The addition of Harper back in the lineup will certainly help.

“He’ll be more than ready,” Pikiell said postgame about Harper’s availability for Monday’s game.

While it’s back to the drawing board for Rutgers, the team hopes three straight home games is what it needs to get back on track.

“It’s basketball, you win, you lose,” Bailey said. “You just got to get back in the gym and just keep working.”

For more updates on the Rutgers men’s basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Camden Markel's work, follow @CamdenMarkel on X.

The Knights opened up the scoring with graduate student forward JoJo Lacey converting on a layup. It was not long before No. 8 Maryland answered quickly with a familiar face, Kaylene Smikle, knocking down a triple for the early lead. From there, it was all Terripans, holding the lead for the remainder of the game. 

Here are three takeaways from Rutgers’ second straight loss against a top-10 opponent:

Finding the line between ferocity and foul trouble

The Knights are a team known for their aggressive nature on defense, especially with players like senior forward Destiny Adams, graduate student guard Awa Sibide and Lacey. Many times, it is the defense that is the difference in close games, especially in stacked Big Ten.

Rutgers has struggled this season to toe the line between being an aggressive team and being a team that is in a hole early due to fouls. Lacey and Adams found themselves with three fouls heading into the halftime break, changing the Knights' game plan going out for the second half. 

Ultimately, Rutgers would be without two of its better players for most of the fourth quarter, with Lacey fouling out approximately 30 seconds into the final frame, with Adams doing the same a few minutes later. The Knights currently have a rotation of eight players who see significant time and losing even one player can shake up the continuity on both sides of the ball.  

“We got some tough calls I thought, but we got to be a little bit smarter,” said head coach Coquese Washington. “We have to be tighter in our rotations defensively, and if we can do that, then some of those call I think we don’t get.”   

Scoring early and often 

Rutgers has struggled in the past two games when it comes to scoring in the first half, with just 25 points scored last time out against Ohio State and 22 against Maryland. It has been the second quarter, in particular, that has given the Knights problems lately. 

For the second game in a row, Rutgers has failed to tally double-digit points in the second quarter, tallying only 9 points in the second quarter of each of the past two games. Freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller led the Knights with 5 points in the second quarter without much help from the supporting cast. If not for the struggles in the second quarter, the past two games would have been much tighter as far as the final score goes. 

“We had a lot of turnovers that quarter and the turnovers led to transition points for (Maryland),” Washington said. “When you’re not getting shots and you’re getting turnovers, that's a recipe for not scoring so I thought the turnovers were a big deal in the second quarter.”

Keeping composure is key

It is no secret that Rutgers plays in one of the best conferences in all of women’s basketball at the moment. On top of that, the Knights have to play some of the top teams in the conference to open up the season and it seems that adversity is inevitable. Rutgers needs to stay composed on the court to help their odds in tough matchups. 

The Knights turned the ball over 24 times today, surrendering 33 points off those turnovers, many of which came from forced passes or simple mental mistakes. It was evident both in the play style and body language of Rutgers that it was rattled at times today. It might not seem like much in the moment, but this lack of composure can be the difference between a big win or a tough loss over time.    

Things do not get any easier for the Knights as they travel back to the Banks to take on another top-10 team, USC. Sunday’s tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and 88.7 WRSU-FM.

For more updates on the Rutgers women's basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X.

The roller-coaster ride the team gave the fans in 2024 certainly had its positives and negatives.

Positive: Offense was the best in years

An explosive offense is a foreign concept for most Rutgers fans, but there’s no other way to describe how they performed this year.

The Knights ranked in the top half of the Big Ten in yards per game and points per game, including seven 30-plus point performances throughout the season.

Senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis impressed as he eclipsed the 2,000-yard passing mark for the first time in program history since 2015. Kaliakmanis’ reunion with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarocca was a catalyst for the offensive turnaround, and the QB did it by feeding sophomore receiver Ian Strong and freshman receiver KJ Duff. The receiving duo’s potential is through the roof and will be key in 2025.

Senior running back Kyle Monangai finished off his illustrious career by earning the program’s inaugural first-team All-Big Ten honors. Even with his departure for the NFL, the offense proved in the two games he was absent that the run game is in good hands with the likes of freshman running back Antwan Raymond and sophomore running back Ja’shon Benjamin. 

An offense that had been dormant for years has come alive and set the bar high for next season.

Negative: Bitter end to the season

On November 23, Rutgers was up by 1-point against then-top 25 Illinois with just 14 seconds left. The Knights lined up for a game-winning field goal and missed. 

Head coach Greg Schiano, though, had called a timeout prior to the snap. What ensued the next play was a miracle touchdown from Illinois, squandering Rutgers’ chance of earning its first ranked win since 2009 and its first-ever Big Ten-ranked victory. 

Fast forward a month later to the Rate Bowl. The Knights had a 34-17 lead over the Wildcats in the third quarter that they let slip right through their hands, spoiling a 41-point performance from the offense. 

When the fans, media, even the players and coaches look back on this season in the coming months, it’s going to be hard to forget these glaringly brutal losses in two of the team’s final three games.

A 9-4 season with a ranked win and a bowl championship would have been a landmark season for the program. Instead, it’s a 7-6 season, just like the one they had a season prior.

Positive: Overcame adversity and injury

The volatility of this year’s team can certainly point to the injuries that were suffered as a reason for it. 

A point hammered home by members of the media prior to the season was Rutgers’ returning production, but some were lost to injuries throughout the season. 

Senior linebacker and preseason All-Big Ten recipient Mohamed Toure didn’t even get a chance to play a single game due to injury. 

Every scholarship tight end was lost by week 11. The anchor of the offensive line and senior guard Bryan Felter missed the final nine games of the season. That wasn’t it, as there were many other injuries mixed in throughout the course of the year.

The ability to right the ship with wins against Minnesota, Maryland and Michigan State after a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season does warrant respect to the players and coaches. It also highlights the resilience the team has.

Negative: Couldn’t take advantage of the weak schedule

A prominent reason for the high expectations coming into the season was the fact that the Knights had as easy of a schedule as you can get in the Big Ten. 

They faced just one ranked team all year and just six bowl-eligible opponents in the regular season. In a conference that sent four teams to the college football playoff, Rutgers was somehow able to avoid playing any of them. 

The Knights could have seized the opportunity in front of them and beat up on weak opponents like its conference foe Indiana did.  There’s an alternate universe where, instead of the Hoosiers, Rutgers is the one going 11-1 and forcing the College Football Playoff committee to put them in the playoff. 

In reality, the Knights finished with a solid, but not great, 7-5 regular season record.

Positive: Great recruiting class and young talent shines

It’s no secret that Schiano runs a developmental program. Recruiting players to learn and stay on the Banks for three to four years is his MO. Even with the transfer portal controlling the landscape of college football, Rutgers is still able to recruit effectively, keep its guys and use the portal to supplement positions of need. 

As this senior class, which was so integral in bringing the Knightl back to relevancy, moves on, there are new classes oozing with talent following them. This season saw true freshmen like Duff, Raymond, defensive back Kaj Sanders and receiver Ben Black already playing important roles. 

Couple that with a class for 2025 that ranks number 34 according to 247sports.com, and you have a job well done by Schiano.

Negative: Program’s identity took a hit

Schiano has preached a fundamental, detail-oriented style of football to all Rutgers players and fans. The “CHOP” mantra is written on the walls of the practice facility, is sold on t-shirts and is embedded in the campus fabric. 

But where was the “chop” when the Knights blew a 17-point lead in the second half of the bowl game? Where was it when they lost by 35 points at home to a now 5-7 Wisconsin team? Or when they made UCLA’s Ethan Garbers look like UCLA's Troy Aikman. 

Those types of moments set back a program for years, especially a developmental one like Rutgers.

All of it comes down to better coaching and a next-man-up mentality. 

Next season, it’s imperative for the coaches to combine the skill at their disposal with the hard-nosed style of football that has brought Schiano and the program its success.

For more updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of James Mertz's work, follow @JamesVMertz on X.

For the Lions (11-2, 0-0), this marks just their second loss of the season after a dominant start to non-conference play. Columbia is well on pace to surpass its record from last season, which was less than favorable, winning just four conference games and 13 games overall.

The first half started the way most Rutgers games have this year, with points from the duo of Harper and freshman forward Ace Bailey. On 3 of the first 5 possessions for the Knights, either Harper or Bailey scored, opening up a 12-4 lead early.

Throughout the first half, Rutgers seemed to have steady control of the game in every aspect, outscoring Columbia, out-rebounding them and overall outplaying them. Despite this, the scoreboard told a different story, with the Lions keeping their deficit within reach on the back of Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa’s 11 points. 

The Knights saw production for multiple players, with Bailey leading the half with 17 points, followed by sophomore guard Jamichael Davis with 9 points. Harper was quiet in the first half with just 3 points but filled up the stat sheet with seven rebounds and six assists. Rutgers would enter the break up 44-35, with Columbia just one run away from closing the gap. 

To the Lions’ credit, they came into the second half with the same fire as the first and kept the game tight, closing the Knight’s lead to just 8 points with approximately 15 minutes left. From that point, it was all Rutgers, outscoring Columbia 40 to 21 in the remaining 15 minutes of the game. 

Bailey added another 7 points to his total in the half, ending with 24 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field and collecting eight boards. Harper dazzled in the final frame with 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting, to go along with four rebounds and six assists. More impressively, Harper did something that has not been done in more than 40 years on the Banks, collecting his first career triple-double. 

“Obviously, It is a great accomplishment," Harper said. "But, I could not do it without my teammates. Guys like Jamichael Davis, Ace Bailey, really put me in great positions. They were open for me to find them. The most important thing is that we won today, that is what we wanted to do. We prepared great, and did all the right things.”

Harper was important on all ends of the floor, bringing down rebounds, dishing out assists and sinking clutch three-pointers to help pull away from the Lions in the second half.

“I love the fact that (Harper) had seven rebounds in the first half — we need him to do those things,” said head coach Steve Pikiell. “He passed the heck out of the ball, he scored. I always say this about these guys, there are better days ahead of them too so that’s the exciting part but, yeah heck of an accomplishment.”

As Big Ten play awaits, the Knights have cleaned up many things that have plagued them in the past few games. Rutgers left far fewer points at the line, shooting 8-for-12 from the charity stripe and dominated the glass, allowing the Lions to collect just three offensive rebounds.

Overall, it was a strong team effort for the Knights, with four players tallying double figures, three of which were freshmen, in Harper, Bailey and freshman center Lathan Sommerville. As a team, Rutgers shot approximately 47 percent from the field and recorded 45 total rebounds, tied for the second most in a game this season. 

The Knights have a few days off before they start the new year on the road against Indiana for the start of a tough conference schedule. Thursday’s tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Peacock as well as 88.7 WRSU-FM.

For more updates on the Rutgers men's basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X.

It was a chaotic start to the game for Rutgers, turning the ball over on 2 of its first 3 possessions. This trend would continue throughout the first quarter as the Knights could not break the pressure from No. 10 Ohio State.

Senior forward Destiny Adams took charge in the opening frame on both ends of the floor for Rutgers. On the offensive side of the ball, Adams tallied 12 of her team's 16 points while shooting 50 percent from the field. Defensively, Adams forced four turnovers, all offensive fouls on the Buckeyes. 

Ohio State spread the ball well in the first quarter, with each of its five starters recording a basket. Cotie McMahon led the Buckeyes with 6 points on a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc en route to a 23-16 lead to end the first quarter. 

The second quarter was all Ohio State, outscoring the Knights 23-9, keeping both Adams and freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller quiet. McMiller has been on fire to start the season and the Buckeyes had a strong game plan to avoid the shifty guard. Ohio State held McMiller to just 4 points and four turnovers in the opening half. 

With one half down, the Buckeyes led 46-25, with McMahon, Ajae Petty and Taylor Thierry all scoring double-figures.

 Rutgers came out of the break firing on all cylinders, scoring 9 straight points to cut the deficit to just 12 points with approximately 3 minutes played in the second half. The Knights played a much more complete quarter, shooting 50 percent from the field while holding Ohio State to just 16 points on 5-for-15 shooting from the floor. Rutgers won the rebounding and scoring battles yet still faced a 62-45 deficit entering the fourth. 

The Knights were successful even without both Adams and McMille, who found themselves on the bench for most of the third quarter with four personal fouls. Graduate student forward JoJo Lacey led the scoring for her squad with 5 points.    

In the final frame, Rutgers began to find a bit of a groove offensively between McMiller and Adams, who scored 14 of their team’s 18 points in the quarter. With this, the Knights still came up short of pulling off an upset win against a top-ten team in the country. 

Adams finished with a game-high 31 points and 17 rebounds to record her 5th double-double of the season. McMahon and Petty both scored a team-high 16 points for the Buckeyes. 

Despite the loss, there is still much to take away from a close game against a strong team in Ohio State. Rutgers played well defensively, especially on the perimeter, allowing just 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc and forcing 20 turnovers. 

“We came into the game wanting to be aggressive on the defensive end,” said head coach Coquese Washington. “Just being really active on their drives, knowing (Ohio State) wanted to be dribble penetrators. So we wanted to be active and aggressive, and I think it worked for us.” 

Another positive comes from graduate student guard Awa Sidibe, who played 34 minutes after coming off a long stretch off the court due to injury. Having Sidibe on the court provides a strong senior presence at the guard position and a sense of comfort for younger players, especially against strong conference opponents. 

“This is the most, without question, the toughest conference … in terms of competitiveness in the conference that I’ve ever been associated with,” Washington said. “It’s always been good, but it’s on another level this year.”

The Knights are in the midst of a three-game stretch against all top-10 teams. Rutgers has four days off before traveling to College Park, Maryland, to take on Maryland and a familiar foe in Kaylene Smikle.  Thursday’s tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM. 

For more updates on the Rutgers women's basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X.

No Monangai? No problem in the first half

With his eyes set on the upcoming NFL draft, star senior running back Kyle Monangai was the only Knight to opt out of the Rate Bowl.

That didn’t seem to matter against the Wildcats (9-4, 5-4). Freshman running back Antwan Raymond and sophomore running back Ja’shon Benjamin handled the load just fine.

Raymond ended the first half with an astounding 104 yards on eight carries. That’s 14 yards per carry.

The true freshman's first highlight came at the 4:15 mark of the first quarter when he pushed the pile for a touchdown from two yards out on third and goal. This score gave Rutgers an early 7-3 lead.

It didn’t stop there. Early in the second quarter, Raymond surged up the middle for a 65-yard run that surely made Monangai smile on the sidelines. A few plays later, Benjamin punched in a three-yard touchdown to give the Knights a 17-10 lead. 

After Kansas State tied the score at 17 apiece, Raymond took matters into his own hands. He glided into the endzone off the left edge for a 24-yard touchdown. In just two quarters, Raymond found paydirt twice. He has done so in back-to-back games, as he scored two times in the regular season finale against Michigan State last month. 

After two quarters, Rutgers led 27-17.

With the way the offense played in the first half, it seemed like the Knights had their hands on the wheel. They sat comfortably in the driver's seat.

Rutgers fans who gleefully took to the concessions at halftime for a snack or a bathroom break had no idea what they would be witness to in the second half.

From the driver’s seat to the backseat.

The second half started off well.

After forcing a Wildcats punt, the Knights drove down the field and increased their lead to 34-17 courtesy of a seven-yard Benjamin touchdown catch. The momentum shifted even more in Rutgers’ favor.

But then it quickly shifted to Kansas State like a tide in a storm.

After two more punts by both teams, the Wildcats calmed down their antsy fans with an explosive 65-yard run by Dylan Edwards. Edwards galloped through a gaping hole, eluded tacklers and found the endzone. A failed two-point conversion attempt put the score at 34-23.

Two plays later, when the Knights had possession on 2nd and 16, senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis had his first costly blemish of the game. He threw an ugly pick that set Kansas State up in opposing territory.

Things went from bad to worse. A 27-yard scramble from quarterback Avery Johnson set up a 13-yard touchdown pass. Another missed two-point conversion try made the score 34-29, but it was clear the game’s complexion was vastly changing.

The next scoring play would come at the 14:02 mark of the fourth quarter. Rutgers converted on the goal line with Raymond’s third touchdown of the game. At that point, the Knights led 41-29 and just needed their defense to step up.

But the Wildcats were firmly visible in the rearview mirror.

A 7-minute drive with 14 plays for 85 yards culminated in a Kansas State touchdown. The score was now 41-36. With approximately 7 minutes remaining, Rutgers could have chewed up some clock with a couple of first downs. Better yet, the Knights could have scored a touchdown or at least a field goal. They didn’t. Instead, they went three and out.

The Wildcats got the ball back at their 40-yard line with approximately 5:30 to go. At the 4:15 mark, Edwards took to the left side, found a wide-open lane and scored what would end up being a game-winning touchdown. Kansas State scored more on the 2-point attempt, but it wouldn’t end up mattering. With the game on the line on 4th and 7 in its own territory, Rutgers could not move the chains. A first down later, and the Wildcats would earn a wild come-from-behind bowl victory.

In the first half, the Knights totaled 319 yards of offense. In the second half? Just 82. It didn’t help that headset communication issues between offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarroca and Kaliakmanis arose in the third quarter.

Not only did the offense disappoint in the second half, but the Rutgers defense allowed 27 points in the half alone. It was a disastrous two quarters all around. Kansas State accumulated a whopping 542 yards on offense and 347 on the ground.

“They did some things in the run game that certainly gave us trouble,” said head coach Greg Schiano. “When the quarterback can be a runner that he is, it changes all the math. It’s really hard.”

One could direct the defense’s struggles toward not having former defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak at the helm of the defensive play calls. A few weeks ago, Harasymiak was hired as the head coach of UMass. Schiano served as the main defensive coordinator in Thursday’s game. 

“Cetaintly wasn’t a great thing for us,” Schiano said of not having Harasymiak.

This Knights’ loss will surely sting. They know they let this game get away from them. All Rutgers can do is look toward the future.

“I feel bad for them, but that’s the way life goes,” Schiano said. “We’ll shake off the dirt, get back to work in a couple weeks and continue building this program.”

For more updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Josh Meyers' work, follow @JoshCMeyers on X.

Head coach Greg Schiano will be looking for his seventh bowl win at Rutgers, and the writers here at The Daily Targum are mostly confident that hope will become a reality at Chase Field on Thursday.

Josh Meyers, head sports editor:

"Simply put, Rutgers’ bowl track record under Greg Schiano is very good. That won’t change in Phoenix. Give me the Scarlet Knights in a 24-17 victory."

Camden Markel, associate sports editor:

"I predict that Josh and I will have a jolly ol' time in Phoenix, and Rutgers rolls to a 33-21 win!"

Matthew Mangam, associate sports editor:

"Kansas States rates 0 out of 10. Rutgers thumps the Wildcats 30-13 in the Rate Bowl."

Nicholas Hart, associate sports editor trainee:

"Rutgers faces a tough test against a stout defensive front of Kansas State. With Kyle Monangai out, Antwan Raymond will get the bulk of the carries with at least 15 carries for 75 or more yards. The Knights will have to punt a few times due to the strong defense of the Wildcats, with Jakob Anderson firing at least three kicks for 60 yards. Kansas State will find the end zone at least twice, resulting in at least 5 kickoffs in the game between the two teams. At the end of the day, Rutgers wins a defensive battle 21-13."

Philip Jaccoma, correspondent:

"Kansas State wins 28-24. The Wildcats' schedule has been pretty brutal this year compared to Rutgers, but I think that’ll give them the edge. Expect scoring from both sides, but I still see the Scarlet Knights struggling on the ground since Monangai won’t play. The committee will be held to under 120 yards, but Athan Kaliakmanis will still get his through the air for more than 200 yards. The defense will let up over 300 yards but will force one turnover to keep it close."

The bowl game will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN and 88.7 WRSU-FM.

Kansas State is coming off an impressive season, defeating a handful of tough conference opponents. Despite the success, the Wildcats found themselves in a stacked Big 12 conference, ultimately finishing eighth.

The Daily Targum sat down with Toby Hammes, the sports editor for the Kansas State Collegian, to preview Thursday’s matchup. 

Kansas State has been spoiled with success under head coach Chris Klieman, making four bowl games since 2019 and winning eight or more games in each of those seasons. The culture of the Wildcats is one that many fans believe is what has led to so much success.   

“Klieman loves to emphasize that it’s a player-led team,” Hammes said. “The team hasn’t missed a bowl game other than the Covid year … so I mean it’s a program based on consistency.”

Much of Kansas State’s consistency this season has come from quarterback Avery Johnson, who broke out last year in the Pop-Tart Bowl. In his first year as a starter, Johnson has surpassed expectations, throwing for 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Johnson is also a threat with his legs, tallying 548 yards and six touchdowns on the ground this year as his team’s second-leading rusher. 

“Everyone knew he would be the face of the program … and the ceiling truly is the Heisman,” Hammes said. “I mean, it’s hard to do but I mean by his senior year, if he has the experience, I think he can compete.”  

One main piece that the Wildcats will be without is runningback DJ Giddnes, who has declared for the 2025 NFL draft. In three seasons, Giddens has tallied 3087 rushing yards, which is third all-time in rushing yards in Kansas State history. Giddens rushed for 100 or more yards in 7 of 12 games this season. 

“There’s tons of studs in the Big 12 running back game and DJ Giddens, he can do it all (which) is the amazing thing,” Hammes said. “In the receiving game, on the ground, obviously he averages six plus yards per carry … K-State is really going to miss him in the bowl game.”

Defensively, the Wildcats are a stout unit on the line and in the linebacking corps, led by Brendan Mott and Austin Romaine. Mott has been a game-wrecker for Kansas State, recording 8.5 sacks and an interception this year. Romaine leads the Wildcats in tackles and has been a leader on the field for the fifth-ranked defense in points per game allowed in the Big 12. But the Kansas State defense will be without a key piece on Thursday.

“Kileman just announced that CB one Jacob Parish … will not play after declaring for the draft,” Hammes said. “With that news, I would add, the secondary is the biggest question mark for K-State defensively in this game.”

As for his prediction for the bowl game, Hammes believes it will be a tightly contested offensive performance by both teams. 

“I’ll say K-State 27, Rutgers 20,” he said.

The Knights look to capture their second straight bowl victory and seventh overall under head coach Greg Schiano. Thursday’s matchup is set to kick off at 5:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN and 88.7 WRSU-FM.

For more updates on the Rutgers football team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X.

On Friday, the University released a profile that included the goals, characteristics and experiences it hopes to find in an incoming chief executive. It incorporated perspectives shared at town halls across the University from December 3 to 10.

The list hints at a potentially more academically-oriented candidate, as it explicitly addresses the University's increasing pursuits to enter a more competitive sphere in higher education. Other goals for the incoming president include strengthening the University's research programs and scaling up its cultural and academic dominance.

Board of Governors Chair Amy Towers, who is also the co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee, sat down with The Daily Targum earlier this month to further explain the process of finding the University's 22nd president and the qualities the committee will be looking for in future candidates.

The committee, whose membership was announced in a University-wide email in late November, seeks to represent various constituent groups across the University and the state as evenly as possible — shrinking a community of approximately 100,000 University faculty, staff and students down to just 20 committee members.

To guide the search for Holloway's successor, the University also tapped WittKieffer, an external search firm that has assisted in 19 searches to fill vacancies at Rutgers. One of its strengths lies in its vast long-term connections across industries, according to Towers.

"Perhaps it's a sitting president. Perhaps it's somebody else in a professional or private environment," she said. "Maybe (WittKieffer) placed somebody five years ago, who's now really ready and groomed up for this, and they have a pre-existing relationship that they can reach out."

Towers also emphasized the value of the University community's perspectives, both through a series of town halls that took place earlier in December, as well as through nominations that can be submitted via email to both Rutgers and WittKieffer.

Despite the town halls' timing overlapping with the concluding weeks of the Fall 2024 semester, Towers said the scheduling appeared not to interfere with turnout. They were conducted across all three campuses at various times of day in both virtual and in-person formats. Some sessions saw more than 120 attendees, she said.

"We're really trying to meet people where they're at — time of day, virtual, in-person, email — so, hopefully, people will find their place in the process," she said.

Regarding the presidential position itself, Towers revealed that unlike Holloway and his predecessor, former University President Robert L. Barchi, the new president will not be hired with a set institutional or operational goal in mind. By contrast, Holloway told the Targum that he was hired with the intent to be the University's "chief lobbyist" and "chief cheerleader," compared with Barchi, whose main purpose was to facilitate the establishment of Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences.

Despite the openness of the role, Towers underlined the exclusivity of being selected for the Rutgers presidency.

"This is a very unique position," she explained. "It's one of the largest public universities in the country. We're one of the most prestigious research universities in the country. So, there's a lot of people who, frankly, wouldn't be qualified for this job."

Candidates must also share the University's existing values and identity, such as its promotion of diversity, financial accessibility and first-generation college attendance. Based on University-wide discussions, Towers said the search committee deduced that the University community appears to agree on its identity and goals, and the incoming president should work toward those rather than pursue their own ideas.

She also said candidates for the role must carry a certain set of social competencies and qualities, including strong communication skills and an enthusiasm for the job.

"With everything going on in higher ed right now, you can be really smart, but if you can't communicate Rutgers' values, if you can't communicate our vision and mission, if you are not effective at communicating the leadership that Rutgers has, then that's not helpful either," she said.

According to the presidential search website, the search committee seeks to confirm a candidate for the presidency by April 2025. Towers said the next step over the coming months is for WittKieffer to investigate candidates, interview them and offer up recommendations to the Board of Governors, who will finalize the decision. In the presidential profile, WittKieffer asked candidates to submit documents for consideration by March 3, 2025.

Should the process not be completed within the required timeline, Towers said the last resort would be to select an interim president, who would fill the vacancy temporarily. Thus, the committee must balance competing pressures to select the correct candidate for the job before Holloway's departure on July 1, 2025.

Lalas’ recruitment to play for the Scarlet Knights was unique. He was offered admission to Cook College – and despite not being particularly interested in learning about agriculture – Lalas took advantage of the opportunity simply because he wanted to play for Rutgers.

“It was the best decision that I’ve ever made – completely the wrong way in terms of getting and assessing a college out there, but serendipity and the soccer gods smiled upon me,” Lalas said. 

The adjustment to New Jersey was difficult for Lalas, who was not used to such a big state school like Rutgers.

“I did not speak, I think, for the first three months that I was at Rutgers,” he said. “It actually worked out okay because people were scared to death of me – it was an incredible intimidation factor.”

But once Lalas settled on the Banks, he never looked back as his soccer career rapidly took off. 

The Knights reached the Final Four and the NCAA Tournament title game in 1989 and 1990, respectively. Rutgers couldn’t build off that success in 1991, but Lalas – a three-year captain – finished his time as a Knight with 82 starts, the eighth-most in program history. 

Lalas is the only Rutgers player to receive three All-American honors (1989, 1990 and 1991) and win the MAC Hermann Trophy (1991), the most prestigious award in NCAA soccer given to the best player in the nation each season. 

With many accolades to his name, you would think that Lalas went on to play for a top-tier Major League Soccer (MLS) team following his legendary Knights career. But the MLS wasn’t founded yet – and its predecessor, the North American Soccer League, shut down in 1984 – leaving Lalas to focus on earning a call-up to the United States men’s national team (USMNT). 

Lalas was invited to USMNT national camps before making his first appearance with the team in a friendly against Mexico on March 12, 1991, a moment he would never forget. Lalas largely credits his time on the Banks as the reason he got the chance to play in the first place. 

“So what Rutgers did was it provided the platform to be seen nationally and I harnessed that and used that,” he said. “If I hadn’t had that platform of Rutgers, then, I wouldn’t have been seen and gotten those opportunities. I did look at each and every opportunity I had to put on that shirt, put my hand over my heart, sing that anthem and represent what I feel is the greatest country in the world. I took that seriously and I approached it with a deference and with a respect that went beyond whether we won or lost on the field.”

But that was just the beginning of Lalas’ international career. Three years later, he would represent his country on the biggest stage: the FIFA World Cup. Lalas played every minute for the USMNT at the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. It was a monumental tournament for the USMNT – they advanced out of their group, upsetting Colombia and tying with Switzerland, before losing to Brazil, the competition's eventual winners, in the Round of 16. 

“It really changed my life forever, and I live the power of what it can do to an individual,” Lalas said on playing in the World Cup. “A couple of years ago, I’m running around in Michigan, and then a few years ago, I’m running around on college fields, and now I’m in front of a billion people. It was just fortune that smiled upon me because that particular place at that particular time.”

Following his performance at the World Cup, Lalas signed his first-ever club contract with Italian side Padova and became the first American to play in Serie A. He made 44 appearances and scored 3 goals in two seasons.

“To be the first American to (play in the Serie A), that was special,” he said. “I learned so much on and off the field – obviously you’re playing against the best in the world day in and day out … I grew up as a person and I grew up as a player.”

With the MLS set for its inaugural season in 1996, Lalas signed for the newly-founded New England Revolution. He was an instant starter and named an MLS All-Star in 1996 and 1997 before being traded to the MetroStars – now the New York Red Bulls.

A year later, Lalas was traded to the Kansas City Wizards, now Sporting Kansas City. Lalas played 30 matches with the Wizards but announced his retirement on Oct. 10, 1999. Lalas only stayed retired for one year, though. He signed with the LA Galaxy on Jan. 16, 2001, and had a successful season, winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup and U.S. Open Cup. The following season, the Galaxy won the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup. Following the 2002 campaign, Lalas retired for good. 

Lalas now works as an analyst for FOX Sports, covering MLS, USMNT and World Cup matches. He was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006. 

Lalas is grateful for his time at Rutgers, which he says did more than make him a better soccer player. He will always be remembered as one of the best men’s soccer players for the Knights and is already a USMNT legend.

“When I look at my time at Rutgers, it changed me forever – not just as a soccer player, but as a person,” Lalas said. “It provided me an experience, but also lessons in terms of how to adapt and adjust and to integrate into what are sometimes difficult and certainly challenging different type of environments, and that served me well through life.”

For more updates on the Rutgers men's soccer team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Matthew Mangam's work, follow @MatthewMangam on X.

Here are three takeaways from Rutgers' final game before Big Ten play. 

Kiyomi McMiller is the real deal

Freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller has taken the Banks by storm, averaging approximately 21 points per game and doing so in style. McMiller has garnered a lot of media attention due to her flashy dribble moves, playmaking abilities and dominance in her first stretch of collegiate play. In her short time with the team, McMiller has scored 20 or more points in eight games this season while amassing 30 points twice. 

No matter what the scoreboard says, it seems that with McMiller on the floor, the Knights are never out of the game. With conference play ahead, having an impact player like McMiller can be the difference between winning and losing a lot of games, especially against some of the top teams in the nation. 

“When you add a player like Kiyomi, who can do so many things on both sides of the ball, it makes a big difference,” said head coach Coquese Washington. “It makes a big difference in our confidence, it makes a big difference in our strategy, it makes a big difference in what we are able to accomplish.”

The supporting cast steps up

Throughout the season, Rutgers has heavily relied on the scoring abilities of McMiller and senior forward Destiny Adams. Against Lafayette, McMiller led the way, but ultimately, it was the team around her that secured the win. With Adams not seeing action until late in the game due to restricted availability, graduate student center Chyna Cornwell and graduate student forward JoJo Lacey stepped up, each tallying 12 points in the victory. 

Although the stat sheet may tell a different story, the impact of graduate student guard Awa Sidibe's return cannot be understated. Sidibe checked in for the Knights for the first time in 660 days, scoring 6 points and recording two steals that swung the momentum back in favor of Rutgers. Having Sidibe back on the court provides more depth to the team and is a source of excitement amongst her teammates. 

“In this program, we are going to love each other,” Washington said. “We’re going to care about each other, through the ups and downs and we are going to celebrate successes together … Awa had a moment that we needed to celebrate, and we didn't wait to get in the locker room to do it. We did it right in the middle of the madness and that’s who we are."

Closing out in the clutch 

The Knights allowed the Leopards to shoot 57 percent from beyond the arc while allowing a collective 22-for-52 from the field. Not the best defensive performance from Rutgers this season by any means, but when it mattered most, the Knights stood tall. This game could have gotten out of hand quickly if it had not been for some key stops on defense.    

The impressive part of the defensive performance came late in the fourth quarter when Rutgers denied almost everything Lafayette threw forward. In the final 5 minutes of the game, the Knights allowed no field goals and just 1 point. On the other end of the floor Rutgers tallied 12 points, creating just enough separation to come away with the victory. 

“We rose to the occasion when we needed to,” Washington said. “The last five minutes of the game was probably our best efforts.”

The Knights have eight days off before they play Ohio State. Sunday’s tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.

For more updates on the Rutgers women's basketball team, follow @TargumSports on X.

To view more of Nicholas Hart's work, follow @nhart03 on X.