GAME NOTES: Still in search of their first Big East win of the season, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights invade Allstate Arena to take on the DePaul Blue Demons today. The Knights head into the contest in a major slump, as they have lost five straight games and seven of their past eight. The team was last in action on Wednesday, when it was trounced at Syracuse 81-59. With the recent slide, Rutgers has fallen to 8-10 overall and 0-5 in conference play. As for DePaul, it was also in action on Wednesday, when it was bounced by nationally-ranked Villanova 76-69. It was the second loss in the past three games by the Demons, who dropped to 7-9 overall and 3-2 against league foes. The team now returns back home, where it has gone an even 4-4 thus far. DePaul and Rutgers have met just two times previously on the hardwood, with each team winning a game in the brief series.

Rutgers was dominated on the boards, 40-24, and it also allowed Syracuse to shoot a scoring 60.4 percent from the field in a lopsided loss on Wednesday. The Knights hit on 40.4 percent of their attempts from the field, but they went just 6-of-19 from long range and only 7-of-13 at the foul line. Corey Chandler guided the team in defeat with 16 points, while Mike Coburn had 11 points and five rebounds. J.R. Inman though, had an off-night, as he finished with just four points and two boards. Despite the poor showing, Inman is still the team's top scorer (14.1 ppg) and rebounder (7.7 rpg) on the season. Chandler ranks second on the team with 11.6 ppg, while Anthony Farmer chips in with 10.1 ppg. As a team, the Knights have struggled at the offensive end of the court, averaging just 61.6 ppg and shooting only 38.9 percent from the field.

The Demons were completely dominated on the boards, 43-20, and that includes a 17-5 difference on the offensive glass of their 76-69 setback at Villanova. DePaul shot 45.3 percent from the floor and banged home 12-of-27 three- pointers, but it still wasn't enough to overcome the difference on the boards. Draelon Burns guided the squad in the loss with 27 points, while Dar Tucker finished with 18 off the bench. For the season, Burns tops the roster in scoring at 17.8 ppg and he is also dishing out 2.8 apg. Tucker puts forth 13.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg, while Mac Koshwal turns in 10.7 ppg and a team-high 8.1 rpg. Karron Clarke contributes 10.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg for the Demons, who are averaging 73.0 ppg on 43.6 percent shooting from the floor.

DePaul is simply the better team here and behind the efforts of Burns and company, it should have no trouble disposing of the slumping Knights today.