Men's College Basketball
Rider University 87, Fairfield University 59
Broncs Regular Season Co-Champs
LAWRENCEVILLE? Senior Day is always a special day, especially when the conference regular season title is on the line. “Today was set up to be so special,” said head coach Tommy Dempsey.
Junior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham) scored 17 points and senior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) added 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Fairfield Sunday in the regular season finale.
The victory gives Rider (21-9, 13-5 MAAC) a share of the MAAC regular season title, its third (2002, 2005) in the last seven years. The 21 wins also ties the Rider record for victories in a season, set in 1993-94.
“I'm just proud of the kids,” Dempsey said. “Losing was not an option today. We really needed this game, to send the seniors off on the right note and after having such a great season, we felt we deserved to be rewarded for the season we had.”
Due to the tie-breaking procedure, Siena is the top seed. Rider will be the second seed and will play in the MAAC quarter finals Saturday at 7:30 against the winner of the #7 Iona and #10 Canisius first round game. The official pairings for the MAAC Championship tournament will be announced Sunday evening by the conference office. “Whatever number is next to our name next week is not that important,” Dempsey said. “The fact that we're going to hang a banner in this gym saying 2008 MAAC Regular Season Champion, that is what was most important today.”
Holding a 65-49 lead, Rider went on an 8-0 run to take a 73-49 lead with 6:15 remaining to seal the victory.
Fairfield (14-15, 11-7 MAAC), which snapped a seven-game winning streak, jumped out to a 9-2 lead, five points by junior guard Jonathan Han, who finished with a team-high 13 points.
Trailing 11-6, Rider out-scored Fairfield 14-2, six points by Mansell, to take a 20-13 lead mid-way through the first half, and led 38-26 at half time. Mansell tied his career high with five three-point field goals. “There was a vibe in the locker room that we were not going to let Fairfield beat us,” Mansell said.
“Harris is a terrific shooter, and he's one of those guys that when you call a play for him, if he gets a look he'll make it,” Dempsey said. Mansell made five three-pointers, while the entire Fairfield team made four of 25.
“When you shoot four for 25 you aren't going to win many games,” said Fairfield head coach Ed Cooley. “We took too many ?Christers', when you shoot and hope to Christ they go in.”
Rider shot 51.8 percent from the field (29-56) and 55.6 percent for three-pointers (10-18). The Broncs entered the game 12th in Division I in field goal percentage (48.8), 22nd in three-point field goal percentage (39.5) and 33rd in scoring (77.7).
Rider went the first 29 games of the season with the same starting line up before starting all four seniors on Sunday. “Our starting group is playing very well right now,” Dempsey said. “Our starters shot 64 percent from the field last game, and it wasn't much different today.”
Senior Joel Green (Philadelphia, PA/Harriton) made his first start and scored eight points and senior Kamron Warner (Pleasantville) made his first start and compiled seven points. “Coach gave me an opportunity and you have to take advantage of what is given to you. Senior Day, everything was clicking," Warner said. "It was a special day. I couldn't let the coaching staff and the fans down.”
“It was a no brainer starting the seniors today,” Dempsey said. “They have been loyal to the program and I needed to be loyal to them. They deserved to start today.”
Freshman Mike Ringgold (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) added 11 points and five rebounds and sophomore Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Broncs lost at Fairfield by 12 points on February 16, and have now beaten all nine teams in the MAAC as they head to Albany. “No matter who we play, we know they are going to be coming at us,” Thompson said. “Having already beat everyone helps.”
The ?double-double' was the 20th of the season for Thompson and the 50th of his career. Thompson needs just 47 points for 2,000, to go along with his 1,113 career rebounds. “It felt good to cut the nets down after the game,” Thompson said. “I was able to experience this as a freshman, but this is a special team.”
Rider finished the regular season 11-2 at home. The last time Rider won 11 home games was in 1995-96 when the Broncs also went 11-2, with the 11th win an NEC quarter-final win over St. Francis-PA. Rider was a best-ever 13-2 at home in 1993-94, with the 11th, 12th and 13th wins coming in the NEC playoffs.
Rider heads to Albany having won 13 of the last 16 games. “Everyone was saying that Fairfield was the hottest team in the league with their seven straight wins, but I don't thing too many teams are getting on a bus for Albany having won 13 of 16,” Dempsey said.
March. A good time for a basketball team to be hot, coming off a very special regular season finale.
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