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WHEN: Thursday, March 4, 7 p.m., WHERE: Louis Brown Athletic Center — Piscataway, TV: ESPN, RADIO: WOR 710 AM, WCTC 1450 AM, WABC 770 AM, WSOU 89.5 FM

THE GAME: Rutgers (15-14, 5-11) hosts Seton Hall (16-11, 7-9) Thursday (March 4) in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in the second meeting in 10 days between the Big East and Garden State foes. The Pirates will travel approximately 27 miles down the New Jersey Turnpike from South Orange for the much anticipated match-up. The Scarlet Knights will be preparing to improve to 6-1 at home since Jan. 30.

A "Senior Night Block Party" for Rutgers students in honor of team co-captain Hamady Ndiaye, who will be playing his final game on the RAC hardwood, will supplement the evening. Ndiaye leads the Big East and ranks third nationally in blocks with 4.6 rejections-per-contest. He also ranks second among active NCAA players in career blocks with 346, which is nine rejections shy of the Rutgers career mark (355) set by All-American and NBA veteran Roy Hinson (1979-83).

SETON HALL NOTES: Seton Hall forced overtime, but fell to Marquette, 84-83, on Sunday in the regular season finale at Prudential Center. Four players scored in double-figures for the Pirates, who were led by Jeff Robinson's career-high 25 points. For the season, Hazell leads the Pirates and ranks third in the conference with 21.4 points per game. Pope leads the Big East with 10.9 rebounds per game in his first season in a Pirates uniform.

Seton Hall's last two games of the regular season are on the road at Rutgers (March 4) and at Providence (March 6).

RUTGERS NOTES: Rutgers is coming off a 71-62 home victory over DePaul Saturday afternoon. Mike Rosario scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half to help Rutgers overcome a 14-point first half deficit. He made eight-of-13 field goal attempts, including a five-of-eight mark from behind the arc, while also grabbing six rebounds. Rosario was joined in double figures by Mitchell and freshman wing Dane Miller, who contributed 18 and 10 points, respectively. The trio's scoring was aided by the play of junior point guard James Beatty, who dished-out a game-high and career-high tying eight assists. The Scarlet Knights shot 52.1 percent (25-48) for the game, including a 57.7 percent (15-26) mark after the break.

Rosario was named to the Big East Honor Roll on Monday for the second time this season, marking the 10th occasion in 2009-10 that a Rutgers Player has been recognized in the weekly awards. Rosario leads the Scarlet Knights and ranks 11th in the Big East in scoring with 16.4 points-per-game. He needs six points versus the Pirates to become the 38th member of the Rutgers 1,000-point club. He would join two-time All-American Phil Sellers (1972-76) as the only sophomores to reach the millennium mark.

Miller was named the Big East Rookie of the Week three straight weeks, becoming the first league player to do so since Carmelo Anthony. He leads all Big East rookies in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (6.6), while placing second in steals (1.19) and third in both assists (2.75) and blocks (1.1) in conference games. Ndiaye was named to the Big East Honor Roll three times this season and Mitchell was also recognized.

THE SERIES: Thursday's match-up marks the 57th meeting between the schools dating back to 1916, with Seton Hall holding a 32-24 advantage. The last seven meetings under the current coaching staffs have been decided by six points or less or in overtime. Ten of the last 11 meetings between the schools have been decided by six points or less or in overtime. Rutgers is 15-12 all-time at home versus the Pirates and 10-17 in Big East regular season play. On Feb. 23, Seton Hall earned a 76-70 win over Rutgers at the Prudential Center in Newark. Sophomore guard Mike Rosario scored 17 points and Ndiaye and junior forward Jonathan Mitchell both had double-doubles in the loss.

LAST 10 GAMES (SHU, 6-4)

Date: Score - Location

Feb. 23, 2010: Seton Hall 76, Rutgers 70 - Newark

Feb. 8, 2009: Seton Hall 65, Rutgers 60 - Piscataway

Jan. 29, 2009: Seton Hall 70, Rutgers 67 - Newark

March 9, 2008: Rutgers 64, Seton Hall 61 - Newark

Jan. 30, 2008: Seton Hall 84, Rutgers 71 (ot) - Piscataway

Jan. 27, 2007: Rutgers 74, Seton Hall 70 (2ot) - Piscataway

Jan. 3, 2007: Seton Hall 77, Rutgers 72 - East Rutherford

March 8, 2006: Rutgers 61, Seton Hall 48 - New York, N.Y.

Feb. 5, 2006: Seton Hall 73, Rutgers 67 - East Rutherford

Jan. 7, 2006: Rutgers 82, Seton Hall 78 - Piscataway

SOURCE: SETON HALL AND RUTGERS