Auburn is taking its first winning streak of the season into its toughest test of the year.

The Tigers (3-4) – fresh off wins over Georgia Southwestern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff – takes on Rutgers (5-2) in Pittsburgh today at 11:30 a.m. as part of the SEC-Big East Invitational.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

“It is always great to represent the conference in any type of event or tournament that you play in,” Auburn coach Tony Barbee said. “Hopefully, we can go represent ourselves and our conference well.”

Rutgers’ two losses this season have come to Princeton and St. Joseph’s – two frequent NCAA Tournament contenders – and are letting up only 59.0 points per game this season.

The Scarlet Knights have three starters averaging double figures in points per game this season: 6-foot guard Mike Coburn (12.0), 6-7 forward Jonathan Mitchell (10.3) and 6-8 forward Gilvydas Biruta (10.0).

Guards Andre Malone (13.7) and Earnest Ross (11.3) lead Auburn’s 66.9 points-per-game attack.

“Rutgers is a good team with good depth and good balance in their scoring,” Barbee said. “They are a good team. They run their stuff good and defensively between the match-up zone and their man-to-man, they do a lot to make it hard on you. So, we are going to have to play well.”

| 737-2568