WEST LONG BRANCH--Senior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) compiled 19 points, nine rebounds and four blocks to lead Rider to victory at Monmouth Saturday night. “Monmouth is a rival of ours,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “Two New Jersey schools with similar missions, this is one we always look forward to. This is a solid road win.”
Holding a 42-26 lead, Rider out-scored Monmouth 15-3, eight points by Jason Thompson, to take a 57-29 lead with 10 minutes left to play. “When we get some stops, we like to get out and run,” said Jason Thompson, who made seven of 12 field goal attempts. “That is something we've worked hard on this year.”
As a team, Rider shot 53 percent from the field, while Monmouth shot 33.9 percent. Rider out-rebounded Monmouth 39-29.
Rider scored the first seven points of the second half, five by junior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, Pa./Cheltenham), to take a 42-20 lead. Mansell finished with 13 points. “We really came out strong in the second half,” Dempsey said. “We really played good basketball.”
Sophomore Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) finished with nine points, eight rebounds and six assists.
With the score tied at 8-8, Rider went on an 18-3 run, four points each by the Thompson brothers, to take a 26-11 lead, and Rider led 35-20 at the end of the first half. Rider never trailed in the contest.
The Broncs compiled 21 assists. “That's the most this season, so I am very happy with that number,” Dempsey said.
With the victory Rider (7-4) has now won two in a row and four out of the last five games.
Rider is now 2-2 on the road.
Thompson entered the game ranked third in the nation in rebounds (11.9), 13th in blocked shots (3.2) and 30th in scoring (20.7).
Thompson's 1,572 career points is eighth highest ever at Rider and 18 points shy of seventh.
The victory is just the third for Rider in the last nine games in West Long Branch, the other two coming in 2005-06 and 1997-98. “To win handily here is quite an accomplishment,” Dempsey said. “we've had some real battles with Monmouth over the years.”
This was the 33rd meeting between the former NEC rivals, with Rider holding a slight 18-15 advantage in the series that began in 1974-75.
For Monmouth (2-8) R. J. Rutledge scored 13 points and Jhamar Youngblood scored 11 points.
Rider is now 3-0 against New Jersey teams, having already defeated NJIT and FDU.
The Broncs stay in New Jersey to play at Rutgers December 21. “Rutgers is a game our guys have been looking forward to,” Dempsey said. “We haven't had a lot of big wins over the years against the major conferences. This year we got a Big Ten win against Penn State and now we have a chance to get a Big East win and we're looking forward to that opportunity.”
