Overview
- Tariq Francis scored 18 points and Lino Mark added 16 to lead Rutgers, with Jamichael Davis contributing 11 off the bench and Darren Buchanan Jr. grabbing 12 rebounds.
- Rutgers seized control with first‑half bursts of 12-0 and 16-0 to build a 43-21 halftime lead and never trailed again.
- The Scarlet Knights leveraged transition and depth, posting 22 fast-break points while their bench outscored Penn State's 21-3.
- Penn State finished 12-19 overall and 3-17 in the Big Ten, hampered by 3-for-22 shooting from three despite four players reaching double figures.
- Tournament outlook: Rutgers is the No. 14 seed vs. No. 11 Minnesota on Wednesday in Chicago, while Penn State opens Tuesday as the No. 18 seed vs. No. 15 Northwestern.