PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — New Haven will visit Rutgers for a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at Louis Brown Center in Piscataway, N.J. The Chargers enter at 0-1 and are coming off a loss at Syracuse, while the Scarlet Knights are 0-0 and set to open their season at home.

New Haven forward Teshaun Steele is a player to watch. Steele played 32 minutes and finished with 18 points and four rebounds in the Chargers’ most recent game. Tim Walker added five points, three rebounds and five assists in that contest, and Moussa Camara had 10 points and three rebounds. New Haven will need that supporting production again as it faces a Rutgers team that is beginning its schedule. The Chargers will try to keep the game close by limiting turnovers and creating quality shots for Steele and their perimeter players.

Rutgers’ most recent previous result was a loss at Creighton, 82-69. The Scarlet Knights will look to establish an early rhythm at Louis Brown Center and use their home setting before a busy stretch. Rutgers’ upcoming schedule includes home games against NJIT, Bryant, Sacred Heart, Seton Hall, Saint Peter’s and Army, along with road or neutral-site matchups involving Houston, Notre Dame, Indiana and Michigan. New Haven’s upcoming schedule includes home games against Army, MCLA, New Hampshire, Mitchell, Columbia, Medgar Evers and NJIT, plus road games at Penn State, Lindenwood and Delaware State.

The matchup gives New Haven a chance to measure itself against a Rutgers program opening a new season. The Chargers will try to support Steele on the offensive end and limit second-chance opportunities. Rutgers will aim for a controlled start and an efficient offensive performance. New Haven will look to Walker and Camara to complement Steele and keep pressure off its leading scorer. The Scarlet Knights will seek to dictate tempo and make the Chargers work for shots. The contest is set for Louis Brown Center, where Rutgers will play its first game of the season. New Haven will continue a demanding nonconference slate after the visit. New Haven will seek to control the pace and avoid allowing Rutgers to build an early lead. The Chargers’ backcourt will need to handle pressure and create clean entries into the offense. Rutgers will focus on rebounding and defending without fouling. The Scarlet Knights will also look to involve their frontcourt and generate extra possessions. Both teams will use the game as an early benchmark before continuing their nonconference schedules.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Rutgers 71, New Haven 64. Interstat’s ELO system gives Rutgers a 94.7 percent probability to win. Rutgers is installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -25, and the over/under is 138.5.