Men's College Basketball
Binghamton University 69, Rider University 58
VESTAL, NY?Despite 25 points and eight rebounds from junior Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), the Broncs lost at Binghamton Tuesday night. “I'm disappointed that we lost,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “I was happy with the way we competed. We played hard, but not well, and we needed to play well to beat this team.”
The Broncs made just eight of 27 three-point field goal attempts (29 percent). “We're a good shooting team, I am convinced of that, it just isn't showing up right now,” Dempsey said. “We're struggling a bit as a group right now, shooting the ball.”
Rider (6-4) led 40-34 early in the second half before Binghamton (5-4) went on a 26-7 run, 13 points by junior forward D. J. Rivera, to take a 60-47 lead with 5:01 left to play. “That was the key to the game,” Dempsey said.
Rivera, a transfer from Saint Joseph's who played for the Hawks just last season, compiled 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. “He was the difference maker tonight,” Dempsey said.
Trailing 32-30 at half time, Rider out-scored Binghamton 10-2 to start the second half, four points by Thompson, to take a 40-34 lead.
Trailing 24-12, Binghamton out-scored Rider 18-3, 13 points by sophomore Moussa Camara, to take a 30-27 lead, and the Bearcats led
32-30 at half time. Camara finished with 13 points off the bench.
Rider trailed 8-5 before going on a 19-4 run, eight points by Thompson, to take a 24-12 lead with 8:08 left in the first half. “We were playing very good basketball at that point,” Dempsey said. “Their pressure turned us over and got them back into the game.” Rider had 19 turnovers, 13 in the first half.
Thompson compiled a four-point play in that stretch when he was fouled intentionally while dunking, and made both foul shots. “Being a little short-handed we knew Ryan was going to have to force his will on the game,” Dempsey said. “Ryan has to have an aggressive role for us and he did that tonight. He did everything he could to help his team win. That's what you have to do when you are the best player.”
Thompson also added five steals and three assists. “I am always being told to be more aggressive, that's my role, and I tried to do that tonight,” Thompson said.
Rider sophomore Matt Griffin (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) added nine points and five rebounds, while sophomore Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy) scored nine points off the bench. “At points tonight we looked very good,” Griffin said, “but at other points we had breakdowns, allowing them to get easy baskets.”
The Broncs defeated the Bearcats in the only other two meetings between these two teams. Rider won 79-65 here in Binghamton on December 2, 2006, and the Broncs won last year in Lawrenceville 81-73 on December 1, 2007.
The loss is Rider's second in the last three games.
Rider is now 2-3 on the road. Last year Rider finished the regular season 9-5 on the road.
Rider was again playing without senior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, Pa./Cheltenham), Rider's third leading scorer who started seven of the first eight games but is sidelined with an elbow injury. Mansell scored 23 points in the win over Binghamton last year. “You have to go with what you have, but we certainly missed Harris tonight,” Dempsey said.
The Broncs return home Saturday to host Drexel in a 3pm game televised on CN8
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