GAME NOTES: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights go for the season sweep of the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday afternoon when the teams meet up for a Big Ten Conference tilt inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

Rutgers claimed a 50-46 victory over Penn State three weeks ago in Piscataway. The Nittany Lions hold a 37-30 series lead over the Scarlet Knights, who are playing their first season as a member of the Big Ten.

Penn State brought a 10-game win streak into the start of league play but has since lost six straight. On Wednesday, the Nittany Lions were on the wrong end of a 66-60 final at Michigan State. They are the last remaining Big Ten team without a victory in conference play.

Rutgers brings a 10-10 record into Saturday's rematch, thanks to three straight losses. The Scarlet Knights hosted Michigan on Tuesday and came away with a 54-50 setback. That low-scoring contest came just three days after they lost an 89-80 shootout at Minnesota.

Myles Mack led RU with a game-high 15 points and eight rebounds on Tuesday, but the Scarlet Knights shot just 35.8 percent from the floor as a team and received only seven points from the bench. Kadeem Jack tallied 13 points and six boards, although he also committed four of the team's 11 turnovers.

The Scarlet Knights have generally struggled to score with consistency this season, as they are shooting just 39.8 percent and averaging only 59.7 ppg. Mack (14.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Jack (12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) lead the way, however third-leading scorer Bishop Daniels averages only 8.2 ppg.

The Nittany Lions boast the Big Ten's top scorer in senior guard D.J. Newbill, who is putting up 21.9 ppg, a full 3 ppg higher than the league's second- leading scorer. Newbill has accounted for nearly one-third (.288) of his team's total field goal attempts, and lately the Nittany Lions have paid for their lack of scoring balance. Brandon Taylor is second on the team with 9.6 ppg.

In Wednesday's game against Michigan State, both teams shot an identical 42.6 percent from the floor. However, the Spartans also held a key 39-26 rebounding advantage, which yielded a 14-5 edge in second-chance points. The Nittany Lions never trailed by more than eight at any point, although they also never led in the contest. Newbill scored a game-high 27 points in the loss, and Taylor finished with 10 points.

Rutgers failed to dictate the tempo against Michigan in its last outing, while Penn State failed yet again to get anybody else involved in the half court besides Newbill. Whichever team can make the necessary adjustment will win this one.