Rutgers Athletics closed out the week with late-game drama on the hardwood, milestone moments for the women’s program, news throughout the football program, and a long list of Scarlet Knights recognized across sports for their individual excellence.
Men’s Basketball Delivers Dramatic Win Against Penn in Final Seconds
Rutgers men’s basketball ended the week on a high note with a 70–69 win over Penn at Jersey Mike’s Arena, capped by one of the most memorable finishes of the season.
After trailing by six points late, the Scarlet Knights stayed within striking distance
with tight backcourt defense, turnovers, and timely free throws. Tariq Francis delivered a career night, pouring in 34 points and knocking down the game-winning three in the final seconds.
The victory served as a confidence boost for a Rutgers team that had navigated a difficult stretch of games dating back to Las Vegas and preparing for the grind of Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights had fallen to top Big Ten teams in Purdue and Michigan, as well as rival Seton Hall, before snapping the three-game losing streak at home.
The win allowed Rutgers to head into the holiday break with momentum, reinforcing the importance of closing games and leaning on perimeter shot-making in tight moments. After another extended break, the Scarlet Knights will host Delaware State on December 29th at 7 PM.
Women’s Basketball Closes Nonconference Play with Milestones and a Victory
Rutgers women’s basketball also finished the week on a positive note, defeating Lafayette 54–45 to snap a two-game losing skid and wrap up nonconference play with a victory.
The game carried added significance beyond the final score. Faith Blackstone reached the 1,000-point mark at the Division I level, a major individual milestone, while head coach Coquese Washington earned the 250th win of her career. Rutgers leaned on defense and composure down the stretch to pull away after a slow start.
Despite falling behind 11-4 after shooting just 1-15 in the opening quarter, the Scarlet Knights rebounded with a 9-0 run to take a 22-20 halftime lead. Rutgers began the third quarter strong, finishing the frame up by nine, before withstanding a late surge by the Leopards to push their lead back to a final margin of nine points.
Blackstone had a career game, with season-highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Scarlet Knights, while Nene Ndiaye had 19 points and ten rebounds, including eight on the offensive end of the floor. In addition, Rutgers forced 21 Lafayette turnovers, scoring 22 points from them, and outrebounded the Leopards by 21.
With the victory, the Scarlet Knights now turn their attention to Big Ten competition, where consistency and defensive effort will be key against a demanding conference schedule. Their all-too-common tendency of having extended scoring droughts cannot continue in conference play, as the Knights will open Big Ten play on the road against #24 Michigan State on December 28th at 2 PM.
Awards, Honors, and Recognition Across Rutgers Athletics
Beyond the basketball court, the week was highlighted by extensive recognition across Rutgers Athletics, as detailed in the Awards & Honors Roundup article. Most notably, Antwan Raymond was honored as the top Canadian player in NCAA football, winning the prestigious Cornish Trophy after his standout sophomore season.
Scarlet Knights from multiple sports earned conference, national, and weekly honors, underscoring Rutgers’ continued presence across fall and winter athletics. The recognitions ranged from standout individual performances to academic achievements, reflecting both competitive success and excellence beyond competition.
Some of the other highlights were field hockey’s Puck Winter being named a 2025 Second Team All-American, gymnasts Emily Leese and Gabrielle Dildy being named Big Ten Gymnasts To Watch, and divers Bailee Sturgill and Katerina Hoffman winning silver medals at the 2025 USA Diving Winter Nationals.
Rutgers also continued to be well-represented in Academic All-Big Ten honors, reinforcing the university’s emphasis on achievement in the classroom alongside athletic performance.
Football Makes Big Hire, Sees Transfers Out
Rutgers football had a few major announcements, starting with the hire of offensive line coach Jim Turner, who has significant experience around the country, including two stops at Texas A&M. He also coached at Delaware, Texas State, Boston College, and Temple, with his time at the Blue Hens coinciding with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarocca in 2006.
Turner also has NFL coaching experience with the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, with his offensive lines creating holes for major rushing performances in both college football and the NFL. He also had five offensive linemen drafted in the first round of the NFL draft, with five more prospects drafted in later rounds.
The Scarlet Knights also saw a couple of transfer portal departures, with cornerback Bo Mascoe announcing his intentions to enter the transfer portal in a couple of weeks. He was the highest graded defender on PFF for Rutgers, who had a historically bad defense last season.
Mascoe was seemingly the lone bright spot in the secondary, totaling 48 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception while being named an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and the media. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
In addition, linebacker Sam Robinson announced his intentions to transfer. He redshirted in his freshman year before appearing in 10 games his sophomore season, with one start, making 12 tackles. Offensive lineman John Stone was another recent transfer, although he was unlikely to feature as an offensive lineman at this level.
The Week Ahead
As Rutgers heads into the holiday period, men’s and women’s basketball prepare for the transition into conference play, while other winter programs, including wrestling, swimming & diving, and gymnastics, prepare to resume or begin their seasons.
Rutgers men’s and women’s lacrosse also released their 2026 season schedules, meaning that the countdown towards spring sports has begun. Football will surely have big news in the next few weeks as the program looks to hire its next defensive coordinator, as well as the transfer portal officially opening on January 2nd.
Men’s basketball has one final nonconference game against Delaware State on December 29th, while women’s basketball enters the gauntlet of Big Ten play on the road at #24 Michigan State on December 28th.
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