by Rutgers men’s basketball (19-14) will face Hofstra (24-9) in the first round of the NIT Tournament on Tuesday night.
The Scarlet Knights will be looking for redemption after losing to Purdue in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. While their ultimate goal was to play in the NCAA Tournament, the Scarlet Knights will still experience the postseason. However, they have a formidable opponent in Hofstra.
The Pride enter this game looking to get back in the win column after losing to the UNC Wilmington Seahawks in overtime last Monday. They are led by Aaron Estrada, who has been a scoring machine of late. They’ll need him to be at his best to pull off an upset against Rutgers. This should be a close game between two highly motivated teams looking to prove themselves.
To help you prepare for the game and make smart decisions, here are the latest details from Tipico Sportsbook.
The game begins at 7:00 pm and can be seen on ESPN.
Recent History: Rutgers Basketball vs. Hofstra
Entering this matchup, Rutgers is 3-3 all-time against Hofstra. These programs last met in 2020 when Rutgers emerged with a 70-56 win at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell is (1-0) against Hofstra during his time with the Scarlet Knights.
injury report
Rutgers: Mawot Mag (offseason, knee).
Hofstra: No injuries reported.
Players to Watch: Rutgers Basketball vs. Hofstra
Cam Spencer: Through the 2022-2023 season, Spencer has been one of Rutgers’ most reliable scorers. The Davidsonville native is averaging 12.9 points per game and has been a threat from three-point range. As the Scarlet Knights look to kick off the NIT Tournament with a win, they’ll need a big game from Spencer.
Aaron Estrada: Hofstra’s offense runs through Estrada. The New Jersey native is averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He has taken his game to another level this month with 47 points in two games. The Pride will need Estrada to dominate offensively and, on the boards, outplay Rutgers.
Prediction: Rutgers vs. Hofstra Basketball
Take Hofstra on this one. Going into play Tuesday, they are 4-1 in their last five games and have scored 80 or more points twice in that span. The Scarlet Knights have not had the same amount of success as they are 2-3 in their last five games. Rutgers has struggled a lot down the stretch, while Hofstra has been tough to beat.
Betting Lines: Rutgers Basketball vs. Hofstra
Provided by Typical Sports Betting; access the USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a complete list. Lines last updated at 6:26 am ET.
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Money Line (ML): Hofstra +255 (bet $100 to win $255) | Rutgers -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
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Against the spread (ATS): Hofstra +7.5 (-110) | Rutgers -7.5 (-110)
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More/Less (O/U): 136.5 (W: -110 | U: -110)
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The story originally appeared on Rutgers Wire
