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Rutgers Rolls Past Penn State 85-72
Tariq Francis leads Scarlet Knights to first road win of the season
Feb. 23, 2026 at 1:07pm
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Tariq Francis scored 22 points and dished out 7 assists as Rutgers cruised to an 85-72 victory over Penn State on Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights led the entire game, taking a 39-20 halftime advantage and never looking back despite a late Penn State rally.
Why it matters
The win marks Rutgers' first road victory of the season in Big Ten play, a significant milestone for a team looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. Penn State, meanwhile, continues to struggle, falling to 2-14 in conference play.
The details
Rutgers jumped out to a big early lead, holding Penn State without a field goal for nearly the first 7 minutes of the game. The Scarlet Knights capitalized on 10 first-half turnovers by the Nittany Lions, converting them into 19 points. Rutgers shot an efficient 57% from the field and 87% from the free-throw line to maintain control throughout.
- Rutgers took a 39-20 halftime lead, its largest on the road in Big Ten play since coach Steve Pikiell took over in 2016.
- Penn State cut the deficit to 67-56 with a 12-4 run midway through the second half, but Tariq Francis hit a 3-pointer and a jumper on the next two possessions to restore Rutgers' double-digit advantage.
The players
Tariq Francis
A key player for Rutgers, scoring 22 points and dishing out 7 assists to lead the Scarlet Knights to victory.
Josh Reed
Led Penn State with 22 points in the losing effort.
What they’re saying
“This was a big road win for us, and we did it by playing strong defense and taking care of the ball. Tariq really set the tone for us early on.”
— Steve Pikiell, Head Coach, Rutgers
What’s next
Rutgers will look to build on this win when they visit Minnesota on Saturday, while Penn State will try to bounce back against 9th-ranked Nebraska.
The takeaway
Rutgers' first road win of the season in Big Ten play is an important step forward for a team looking to turn its season around, while Penn State continues to struggle, falling to 2-14 in conference play.
