Men's College Basketball
Saint Joseph's University 69, Rider University 57
PHILADELPHIA, PA?The Broncs lost to Saint Joseph's in the season opener at the Wachovia Center Friday evening despite 19 points and six rebounds by junior Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape). “I was proud of the way we fought,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “We had a will with us.”
The host Hawks (1-0) broke a 30-30 halftime tie by out-scoring Rider (0-1) 12-2 over the first 3:30 of the second half, six points by 6'9” senior Ahmad Nivins, to take a 42-31 lead. Nivins, the Saint Joseph's leading returning scorer and rebounder, finished with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Nivins is a Preseason All-Atlantic-10 First Team selection and scored seven points in a 9-4 St. Joe run that expanded the lead to 55-39 with 11:35 left to play. “Nivins is a lot to handle,” Dempsey said. “I didn't realize his numbers were so good until after the game, which is sometimes a sign of a good player.”
Trailing 58-42, Rider went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 60-50 with 5:30 left, but could get no closer.
The Broncs out-rebounded Saint Joseph's 36-34. “To win the battle on the glass with mostly guards in our line-up against a team with good size I think defined our effort tonight,” Dempsey said.
Rider committed 15 turnovers. “It looked like our first game of the season,” Dempsey said. “We committed too many turnovers.”
Rider jumped out to a 12-2 start in the first four minutes, four points by sophomore Mike Ringgold (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic). Ringgold finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. “The good start did not surprise me,” Dempsey said. “I knew we'd come out ready to play. Our kids are tough and competitive. We come out firing in big environments like this. I just wish we did that early in the second half.”
Saint Joseph's led 28-23 before Rider out-scored the Hawks 7-2 over the final 5:26 of the first half, four points by Thompson, to tie the score at 30-30 at the half.
Rider led 18-12 before Saint Joseph's went on an 11-0 run to take a 23-18 lead with 6:45 remaining in the first half. The Hawks' first lead of the game was 20-18 with 8:02 left in the first half.
Senior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, Pa./Cheltenham) entered the game needing 16 points for 1,000 and scored six in the first half before an elbow injury in the second minute of the second half. “Harris' injury seemed to take the energy out of us,” Dempsey said. “He's so tough and to see him lying on the floor affected us. When our energy level dipped they got out to a double digit lead.”
Mansell was a third Team All-MAAC selection last year and is a Preseason Second Team All-MAAC pick this year.
Sophomore Matt Griffin (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) compiled three points and two steals in 25 minutes of action. Griffin's father John coached Saint Joseph's for five years, winning 75 games. “This was quite an experience for me,” Griffin said. “My whole life I've been associated with Saint Joseph's.”
Freshman Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) added seven points and six rebounds in his first collegiate game. “Novar is ultra-aggressive right now,” Dempsey said.
Freshman Brandon Penn (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) added four points and two rebounds in nine minutes off the bench. “The numbers don't show it but I thought our freshmen played well,” Dempsey said.
Thompson, a Preseason First Team All-MAAC pick, compiled just eight points and three rebounds in the first half. “I wasn't aggressive enough early in the game,” said Thompson, who was among the MAAC leaders in points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage and steals last year.
Rider has now lost its last five season openers, including a one-point decision at Murray State last year.
Saint Joseph's has won six of its last seven season openers, including a win over FDU in the Preseason NIT last year.
Saint Joseph's was 21-13 last year, reaching the A-10 championship game and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
Rider was 23-11 last year and advanced to the MAAC championship game and was selected to the College Basketball Invitational.
Saint Joseph's is 180-81 over the last eight years. Rider is 39-26 over the last two seasons.
Rider and Saint Joseph's have now met 19 times, with Saint Joseph's holding a 17-2 advantage in the series that began in 1966-67. Rider won in overtime during the 1969-70 season and also won during the 1979-80 season. Rider and Saint Joseph's were Middle Atlantic Conference rivals in the early 1970s and East Coast Conference rivals from 1974 to 1982.
Sophomore Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy), the starting point guard last season, and freshman Jermaine Jackson (Reading, Pa./Reading), are both recuperating from knee surgery and are expected back in December. “We knew we were coming down here short-handed,” Dempsey said. “Not to make any excuses, but we knew we had to compete extremely hard to stay in the game. We certainly weren't perfect.”
Rider travels to Lehigh November 20 and Lafayette November 23.
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