Men's College Basketball
Drexel University 76, Rider University 70
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite a career-high 20 points by sophomore Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy), the Broncs lost to Drexel Saturday afternoon. “I thought it was a physical, intense battle out there today,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “It was the type of game you need to play to prepare for the league. I felt we competed well.”
Trailing 38-36, Drexel (3-6) out-scored Rider 19-5, seven points by Gerald Colds, to take a 55-43 lead with 8:58 left to play. Colds finished with 13 points.
Rider (6-5) trailed 68-57 before going on an 8-2 run, five points by Robinson, to cut the lead to 70-65 with 38 seconds left, but that was as close as the Broncs could get. “Justin really responded well today,” Dempsey said. “He played well off the ball.”
Drexel made eight of 10 foul shots in the final 1:11 to preserve the victory.
Rider led 31-21 with 3:22 left in the first half before Drexel senior guard Tramayne Hawthorne made three consecutive three-point field goals to cut the lead to 31-30, and Hawthorne's lay-up at the buzzer tied the score at 34-34 at the half. Hawthorne finished with a game-high 21 points.
Trailing 4-3, Rider went on a 15-4 run, five points by freshman Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram), to take an 18-8 lead mid-way through the first half. Gadson finished with 15 points. “I thought Novar played very well,” Dempsey said. “If we are going to have a chance to be a good team, over the course of the year I need consistent efforts from the freshmen.”
Freshman Jermaine Jackson (Reading, Pa./Reading) made his first collegiate start and compiled six rebounds in 14 minutes of action. “Jermaine gave us very good minutes, especially on the boards,” Dempsey said.
Drexel out-rebounded Rider 42-30. “We needed help on the glass and Jermaine gave it to us today.”
“We came up with some big rebounds today,” said Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint.
The victory ended a five-game losing streak for the Dragons. The Broncs have now lost three of their last four games.
Rider junior Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), who leads the MAAC in scoring (17.7), was held to 12 points. “They did a great job on Ryan today,” Dempsey said of Drexel's defense. “It was tough for Ryan today, but I know he'll have better days.”
“I thought we did a good job on Ryan today,” Flint said. “Rider is a good offensive team.”
Rider sophomore Matt Griffin (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) added eight points. “Matt has been shooting the ball well lately,” Thompson said, “and with me at the point Matt and Justin get their shots on the wings.”
The Broncs and Dragons are former East Coast Conference rivals. Rider and Drexel have now played 54 times with Drexel holding a slight 28-26 advantage in the series that began in 1956-57. Drexel won last year by seven points in Philadelphia. Rider won in overtime by eight points in 2006-07 in Lawrenceville.
“I watched Niagara and Drexel (67-62 Niagara) and I watched Fairfield and Drexel (66-60 Fairfield), two of the best teams in our league, and I thought Drexel could have won both of those games,” Dempsey said. “To me, Drexel looks like a team that could compete for a MAAC championship. I felt if we could go out there and compete with them today it would be a good sign.”
The loss was Rider's first in Alumni Gym this season (4-1) despite a sell out crowd of 1,650 for the regionally televised (CN8) game. Rider had won 17 of its last 20 games in the Broncs' Zoo.
The Broncs resume conference play at Iona January 1, spending New Year's Day in New Rochelle. Rider is 1-0 in the MAAC after a 13-5 MAAC regular season last year. Iona is 0-2 in the MAAC and was 8-10 in conference play last year.
“We now have to focus on the fact that we are 1-0 in the league, the defending regular season champions, and now we get back into league play and we have to play like it,” Dempsey said.
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