Junior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham), who played just 18 minutes due to foul trouble, made a three-point field goal with 31 seconds remaining to give Rider (12-6, 5-2 MAAC) an 85-81 lead. Mansell finished with 14 points. “Harris stepped up big,” Dempsey said. “Give Jason credit. The play was to him, but when they double-teamed him he kicked it out to Harris and no one on our team had a doubt that Harris would make that shot. It was a veteran play by two veterans.”
“I had a lot of confidence in Harris,” Jason Thompson said. “I was going to the hole until the second man came over.”
Manhattan (8-10, 2-6 MAAC) trailed 70-50 before out-scoring Rider 31-12, 12 points by Nick Walsh, to cut the lead to 82-81 with 1:40 left to play. That was as close as the Jaspers could get, as Rider never trailed in the contest. “Manhattan played great basketball down the stretch,” Dempsey said. “Walsh came in and really gave them a lift.” Walsh finished with 15 points.
“In this league anybody can turn things around and get a run going in a hurry,” said Ryan Thompson, who made six of seven three-point field goals. “Ryan was terrific tonight,” Dempsey said. “One thing about Ryan, if his three pointer is falling he is very difficult to guard. He's one of the best slashers in the league. He's known for driving to the basket, and that is how most teams guard him.”
Holding a 49-41 lead, Rider went on an 18-6 run, seven points by Jason Thompson, to take a 67-47 lead with 10 minutes left to play.
Trailing 23-7, Manhattan went on a 21-7 run to cut the lead to 30-28 with two minutes left in the first half. Rider scored the last five points of the half and led 35-28 at halftime.
For Manhattan, Devon Austin scored 17 points. “Austin seems to have our number,” Dempsey said. “He always seems to do well against us.”
Manhattan made 19 of 26 foul shots, while Rider was 9 of 17 from the line. “We put them on the line quite a bit, which slowed the game down,” Dempsey said. “When you are trying to come back like they were, when the clock continues to stop it is to their advantage.”
Rider shot a season-best 65 percent (32-49) from the field. “To come on the road and shoot 65 percent and win by just three, you have to give Manhattan a lot of credit,” Dempsey said.
Rider jumped out to a 12-2 lead, seven points by Ryan Thompson, and led 23-7 mid-way through the first half.
Freshman Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy) took just four shots and finished with 11 points, including five points in the first two minutes of the second half to give Rider a 43-31 lead. “Justin got into a nice offensive rhythm tonight,” Dempsey said. “He's doing a great job running the show and is going to have a nice career for us.”
“Give credit to Manhattan, they never gave up,” Robinson said.
The last time Rider won at Manhattan was January 19, 2002, 72-68, with Manhattan winning the last five here in Riverdale.
The Broncs have now won their last four games. “Two of those four wins were against our next two opponents (Iona and Manhattan) so we want to keep this going, and it starts at home on Monday” Jason Thompson said. “We've got to keep this thing going,” added Ryan Thompson.
Rider enjoyed a four-game winning streak last season in November.
Jason Thompson now has 1713 career points, sixth highest ever at Rider, passing Charles Smith, who compiled 1693 points in three seasons (1994-96).
Rider hosts Iona Monday night in a MAAC TV game.
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