Men's College Basketball
Rider University 78, Saint Peter's College 67
NEWARK? Junior Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) scored 25 points, 15 in the first half, to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Saint Peter's Sunday afternoon at the Prudential Center. “Overall a good performance,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.
With the win, Rider (11-8, 6-3 MAAC) moves into sole possession of second place in the MAAC. “We had some ups and downs in the first half of the season but now it looks like we're turning things around,” said Thompson.
“We try not to focus on the standings,” Dempsey said. “But we're through the first half of the MAAC schedule, we're in second place after six road games in the league.”
The victory is Rider's second in a row and fifth in the last eight games. “This was a big weekend for us, winning two games on the road,” Dempsey said. “After losing two in a row we challenged the guys, telling them that if we want to be a contender we had to respond. To finish the four-game road trip 2-2 is a great sign.”
Two days after scoring a season-low four points, Thompson made five three-pointers in the first half as Rider built a 22-point lead at intermission. “Today I had some open three-pointers,” Thompson said. “The last game didn't really enter into today's performance.”
“Ryan was great,” Dempsey said. “He's one of those guys that if gets it going he can really change the complexion of the game. He helps us in so many ways. When he is shooting the ball well he is almost impossible to guard.” Thompson added six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Trailing 65-44, Saint Peter's (5-15, 2-8 MAAC) went on a 12-2 run, eight points by sophomore guard Wesley Jenkins, to cut the lead to 11, 67-56 with 6:06 left to play, but the Peacocks could get no closer. Jenkins finished with 20 points. “Give Saint Peter's credit,” Dempsey said, “they didn't quit.”
Holding a 9-8 lead, Rider out-scored Saint Peter's 26-1, eight points by Thompson and seven by freshman Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram), to take a 35-9 lead, and the Broncs led 49-27 at the half. Gadson finished with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, along with four assists and three blocks. “Since Novar has been in the sixth man role he has really played well,” Dempsey said. “He gives us a great deal of versatility off of the bench. The growth of his game has been drastic in the last few weeks.”
Gadson has compiled 39 points and 20 rebounds in his last two games.
Saint Peter's out-scored Rider 11-1 to start the second half, cutting the lead to 50-38 with 16:00 left to play. “We didn't quite have the energy I hoped we would have in the second half,” Dempsey said. “The guys knew they dominated the first half and they thought it was going to be easy.”
Rider then went on a 15-6 run, seven points by Gadson, to take a 65-44 lead with 9:50 remaining.
The loss was the fourth in a row for Saint Peter's and eighth in the last nine games.
Also for Rider sophomore Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy) added 10 points, five rebound and four assists, and sophomore Mike Ringgold (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) contributed nine points and five rebounds.
Rider matched its season high with 19 assists. “We shared the ball very well,” Dempsey said.
For Saint Peter's sophomore forward Ryan Bacon added 15 points.
It was the 42nd meeting between Rider and Saint Peter's in the series that began in 1942-43, with Rider winning 21, including the last five. Rider defeated the Peacocks here in the Prudential Center 76-67 on January 27, 2008 and then beat the Peacocks 88-76 at Rider. Rider will host Saint Peter's at the Sovereign Bank Arena February 13.
After four games on the road, Rider returns to the Broncs' Zoo to host Loyola on ESPNU Friday night at 9pm in Alumni Gymnasium. “It's going to be nice to be back home,” Thompson said. “Now that the students are back we'll have a student section behind us and we'll be ready to play.”
“I hope we did enough this weekend to generate a buzz again,” Dempsey said. “Hopefully over the next month we can keep the ?Zoo rocking.”
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