July 22, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rider's Porter to Play Basketball in France

            LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ--Mario Porter, a 2002 graduate of Rider University, has signed a contract to play professional basketball for team Orleans in France.

            Porter, an honorable mention All-America at Rider after earning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year award, leaves at the end of August for a nine-month season.

            "The best thing about Mario is that he just continues to get better," said Rider head coach Don Harnum, the MAAC Coach of the Year. "This is a great opportunity for Mario to establish himself as a professional basketball player," said Harnum, who recruited Porter out of Irvington High School (NJ).

            Porter finished his career second on the Rider scoring list with 1,782 points, and seventh in career rebounds with 706, and is the only Rider player to ever compile both 1,700 points and 700 rebounds. As a senior Porter led the MAAC in scoring (20.1) and rebounding (8.5), leading his team to the regular season championship.

            Upon graduation, Porter played in the USBL as a member of the Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs.

            Porter joins former Broncs Jon McClark (Spain), Greg Burston (Spain), and Ken Lacey (Italy), who are also currently playing professionally in Europe.

-RU-