STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in the back half of the Big Ten schedule will meet Wednesday night when the Rutgers Scarlet Knights visit the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Both programs enter with sub-.500 overall records. Rutgers (10-15) snapped a seven-game skid with a 68-57 home win over Maryland on Sunday. Penn State (11-15) looks to rebound after a 72-83 loss at Oregon on Saturday. The matchup features two of the conference’s most dynamic guards in a head-to-head battle. Rutgers will rely on the hot hand of sophomore Tariq Francis, who is averaging 20.1 points per game over his last seven contests. He scored 21 points with four rebounds and four assists in the win over Maryland and poured in 28 points against Indiana on Jan. 23. His backcourt leadership has been vital for a Scarlet Knights offense that has struggled for consistency. Penn State counters with junior Kayden Mingo, a versatile guard capable of impacting the game in multiple ways. He is coming off a 24-point performance against Oregon and tallied 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in a narrow 77-75 win over Minnesota on Feb. 1. His playmaking will be crucial against Rutgers’ physical defense. The Scarlet Knights’ recent victory provided a needed boost, but they have lost six straight road games. Penn State is 8-5 at home this season, including that win over Minnesota. Rutgers holds a narrow 8-7 advantage in the last 15 meetings, but Penn State won the most recent matchup, 65-45, in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament. With both teams near the bottom of the league standings, Wednesday’s game represents a critical opportunity to build late-season confidence. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.