Rutgers basketball to play St. Johns in charity benefit exhibition

Rutgers men’s basketball will play St. Johns in an exhibition matchup this Fall benefitting the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at the V Foundation, according to an official release from the program.

The matchup is set to take place on at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 21 at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York. Lower-level tickets will run at $20, upper level tickets at $10 and students will be able to get in for $5. Tickets are available for purchase through the St. Johns ticket office.

We are excited to partner with Rick Pitino, Dick Vitale, and the Jimmy V Foundation on October 21,” Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said. “Jimmy V was recently named a Basketball Hall of Famer and is one of the all-time great Scarlet Knights. Dick Vitale’s legendary career is intertwined with the success of Rutgers Basketball. We are thrilled to help this great charity to push forward research to help any child facing pediatric cancer. We are excited to face off against a great program run by another Hall of Fame coach for a great cause and look forward to tip-off.”

The matchup comes during periods of momentum for both programs as Rutgers is set to welcome a top recruiting class in 2024 while St. Johns has made recruiting gains after hiring Rick Pitino as head coach.

“Personally, there is no better charity than helping pediatric cancer research through the Jimmy V Foundation,” Pitino said. “There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a young child suffer, so we are delighted to join with Rutgers to donate money from this exhibition to the V Foundation. The fact Jimmy V. played for Rutgers is a great sidebar.”

Rutgers program legend Jim Valvano, former Scarlet Knights team captain, was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He co-founded the V Foundation, which has awarded more than $310 million in cancer research grants since 1993

A member of the V Foundation’s board, Dick Vitale’s first job in coaching was as an assistant for Rutgers from 1971-73.

“I am so thankful to St. John’s Rick Pitino and Rutgers’ Steve Pikiell to play an exhibition game to benefit The V Foundation for kids battling cancer,” Vitale said. “All the dollars donated will go for pediatric cancer research. Personally, it means so much to me as I have dedicated myself for years with my [Dick Vitale] Gala for pediatric cancer research. We have raised $68.1 million thus far, but so much more is needed. Once again, a big THANK YOU to Coach Pitino and Coach Pikiell! You guys are AWESOME BABY!”