Rutgers, Seton Hall Set for Garden State Showdown NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in trajectories will be on display Saturday when the surging Seton Hall Pirates host the struggling Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball rivalry game at Prudential Center. Seton Hall (9-1) enters riding high, having won nine of its first 10 games, including an impressive 78-67 road victory at Kansas State last Saturday. The Pirates’ lone blemish is a narrow two-point loss at Southern California on Nov. 25. Rutgers (5-5), meanwhile, seeks to steady itself after a difficult stretch. The Scarlet Knights have dropped four of their last five, including a 101-60 defeat at Michigan on Dec. 6 and an 81-65 home loss to Purdue on Dec. 2. The Pirates have been led by the consistent play of guard Elijah Fisher. The senior is coming off a 16-point, five-rebound performance at Kansas State and has scored in double figures in three of his last five contests, providing a reliable offensive option. For Rutgers, forward Harun Zrno has emerged as a key contributor during Big Ten play. After limited early-season minutes, Zrno has averaged 12.8 points over his last four games, including a 13-point effort in 27 minutes at Michigan. His increased production will be vital for a Scarlet Knights offense that has been held under 70 points in six of their 10 games. Seton Hall’s defense has been a cornerstone of its strong start, holding opponents to an average of 64.6 points per game. They will look to pressure a Rutgers team that committed 18 turnovers in its loss to Purdue. This intrastate matchup offers Seton Hall a chance to solidify its non-conference résumé before Big East play intensifies next week. For Rutgers, it represents a critical opportunity to secure a signature road win and build momentum before its own conference slate begins in January. Saturday’s game tips off at 2 p.m. EST. Seton Hall visits Providence on Dec. 19, while Rutgers hosts Penn on Dec. 20.