Men's College Basketball-MAAC Semifinals
Rider University 76, Marist College 71
ALBANY, NY?If there was any doubt as to why Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, or why senior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) was named the MAAC Player of the Year, it was explained on Sunday night in the tournament semifinals. “Jason and I talked earlier today and I said ?we'll both earn our season awards tonight', and Jason certainly did,” Dempsey said after the game as the Rider fans chanted his name.
Thompson compiled 32 points, including his 2,000th, and grabbed 18 rebounds, and Dempsey went into the game missing two injured starters, and the Broncs defeated Marist for their fifth straight victory and head to the MAAC Championship game for the second time in four years. “We were up against it a bit last night,” Dempsey said, “all of the breaks went against us, injuries, and we knew we were going to be a bit short-handed tonight, but that just gave other guys opportunities. I thought the guys who got those opportunities took advantage of it.”
In a game for the ages that featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties, Rider (23-9) overcame adversity as Thompson carried the Broncs on his NBA-bound back. “Jason was unbelievable,” Dempsey said. “Being short-handed he knew he had to dominate, and he wasn't an NBA player tonight, he was an NBA All-Star.”
Junior Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham), who sprained his ankle in Saturday's quarterfinal win over Canisius and was less than 100 percent, made seven of eight foul shots, including six of six in the final 35 seconds to preserve the victory. Mansell finished with 16 points and four assists in 30 minutes of action. “Tonight was Harris being Harris,” Dempsey said. “He's been one of our best players all year and he knew he had to step forward with Ryan being down. He has a lot of character.”
Thompson knew he had to shoulder the load, playing without his Second Team All-MAAC brother, Rider's second leading scorer, second leading rebounder and team leader in assists, sophomore Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), who suffered a concussion in Saturday's quarterfinal victory over Canisius, and Rider's starting point guard, freshman Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy), who also sprained an ankle Saturday. “My brother going down like that gave me a lot of emotion tonight,” Thompson said. “With Ryan and Justin not being able to play, it showed why we are a good team.”
Thompson also had a message from his brother before the game. “Ryan told me that I was going to have to carry the load tonight and I took that to heart,” Thompson said.
One of those players with the opportunity was freshman Matt Griffin (Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph's Prep), who make his first collegiate start and compiled eight points, four assists and just one turnover in 32 minutes of action before fouling out. Griffin hit a three-point field goal with seven minutes left to give Rider a 59-57 lead, the 13th and final lead change of the game. “Just a big-time performance, not only for a freshman but for any player,” Dempsey said of Griffin. “After averaging 12 minutes a game, being called on to take the ball and play the entire game. We asked a lot of him tonight and he really responded. He has tremendous character, tremendous heart and leadership qualities and they were all on display tonight.”
“Matty Griff lead the team as our quarterback tonight.” Thompson said.
“My mindset coming in was just to win,” Griffin said. “Whatever it took for us to win. I tried to stay within myself, not try to do too much, just run the offense as best I could.”
“Matt did a great job,” Mansell said. “Yesterday he was down about the way he played, and I told him he has to learn from games like that, and he definitely did. He was strong with the ball today. He really stepped up and made some big shots, played great defense, and played with great energy and passion to win. Everyone feed off of that and I was real proud of him.”
Trailing 39-32 at the half, Rider began the second half with a 9-0 run, three points by Griffin, to take a 41-39 lead. “When you are down by seven at halftime, it is not a big deficit, but if it goes the other way and they go on a 9-0 run, then you're down double figures,” Dempsey said. “We were determined to get off to a good start in the second half.”
Many skeptics believed that without two starters and a third starter playing less than 100 percent, Rider had little chance against Marist (18-14). “Our expectations tonight were to win,” Dempsey said. “We made that very clear in the locker room last night. We didn't come here to make excuses why we can't get it done. We came here to win a championship. We got a couple of bad breaks last night, but that didn't change our mindset. We came here to win three games and now we're in a position where we hope to do that.”
Trailing 45-43, Rider went on a 10-3 run, four points each by Thompson and senior Kamron Warner (Pleasantville), to take a 53-48 lead mid-way through the second half. Warner finished with 10 points, making all four of his field goal attempts, in 18 minutes off the bench. “Kam made some big plays,” Thompson said, “as a senior down the stretch he really sparked everyone.”
Thompson compiled his 22nd ?double-double' of the season in the first half alone.
The score was tied at 30-30 before Marist (18-14) out-scored Rider 9-2 over the final 3:30 of the first half to take a 39-32 lead at half time. Ryan Schneider came in off the Red Fox bench to score seven of those nine and had 18 points in the first half. He finished with 18 points for the game. “We marked him a little bit better in the second half,” Dempsey said. “When guys come in off the bench, sometimes you are so focused on the starters, he snuck up on us a little bit and we lost him in the zone. We put more of a focus on him in the second half.”
Thompson is the third Bronc to reach the 2,000 point mark, and is one of just 95 NCAA Division I players to EVER compile both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. “The mark means a lot because it came in such a big win for us,” Thompson said.
Rider will now take on the tournament host team and the top seed, Siena. The Broncs defeated Siena in their own building on February 2 89-75, before losing to the Saints at Rider a week later, 80-77. “I think the atmosphere is going to be terrific, “ Dempsey said. “We've had two great games with them and we'll have a tremendous fight tomorrow night in front of a crowd of about 10,000 and we'll be ready for it.” The Broncs will also be playing in front of a national television audience, on ESPN2. Rider is 4-2 on national TV this year.
“We've got a big game tomorrow night,” Thompson said, “Number one against Number two in a great atmosphere. Everyone stepped up today with our two starters out and we're going to need the same effort tomorrow.”
“The good thing is that we've shot the ball very well in this building this year,” Dempsey said. “We've been comfortable in this arena shooting the ball. My challenge is stopping Siena. They are so explosive offensively.”
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