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Men's College Basketball
Rider University 68, Canisius College 55
LAWRENCEVILLE?What a difference a day makes, or two days. After a heart-breaking loss on national television in front of a packed house on Friday night, the Broncs came back to win Sunday afternoon.
Junior Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) scored a career-high 28 points, 15 in the second half, to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Canisius. “It was a good response today after a tough loss Friday,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “Good teams have to respond to tough losses.”
Trailing 42-39, Rider (12-9, 7-4 MAAC) out-scored Canisius 18-7, 12 points by Thompson, to take a 57-49 lead with 6:00 left to play. That was the eighth and final lead change of the game. “Ryan was really good today,” Dempsey said. “He was disappointed with the way he played Friday night and I told him that everybody has bad games but the great players respond the next game. He was on a bit of a mission today to bounce back.”
“I have confidence in my teammates and I knew we would bounce back,” Thompson said.
Rider made nine of 10 foul shots in the final 4:14 to preserve the victory, four by sophomore Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy), who finished with 13 points and three steals. Canisius (7-15, 2-10 MAAC) did not score in the final 1:57 of the game, as Rider scored the final seven points of the contest.
Rider freshman Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) added 10 points and nine rebounds
“Justin and Novar played very well in the second half for us today,” Dempsey said.
Robinson was the starting point guard in 30 games last season as a freshman, but has given way to Thompson playing the point over the last two months. “Justin is getting better shots now,” Dempsey said. “Justin is a great jump shooter and when he plays the point he isn't getting those shots. Ryan is more of an off the dribble shooter.”
“I played shooting guard in high school so this is no big adjustment,” Robinson said.
Canisius out-scored Rider 10-3 over the final 5:17 of the first half, five points by Julius Coles, to cut the lead to 32-27 at intermission, and scored the first six points of the second half, five by Coles, to take a 33-32 lead, the Griff's first lead since 6-5. Coles finished with a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds.
Holding a 17-11 lead, Rider out-scored Canisius 12-6, four points by sophomore Mike Ringgold (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), to take a 29-17 lead with 5:17 left in the first half. Ringgold finished with nine points and four rebounds in 23 minutes of action before fouling out.
Frank Turner added 16 points for the Golden Griffins, who have never won in Rider's Alumni Gym (0-12). “I didn't tell the players that Canisius has never won here, but this was not a tough game to motivate our team for,” Dempsey said. “We were embarrassed with the way we played at Canisius and we were embarrassed with the way we played Friday night (against Loyola). We were self-motivated today.”
“You have to have a short memory in this league,” Robinson said. “It was good to come out and play as soon as possible after Friday's loss.”
The Broncs defeated Canisius 12 straight times, including the game that ended the Griff's 2008 season in the MAAC tournament, before losing in Buffalo on January 15. “You can't get swept in this league,” Dempsey said. “This was the first time this year we were in position to be swept.”
Rider and Canisius have now met 29 times, with Rider winning 24.
Rider will now host the top team in the conference, defending MAAC champion Siena on February 7. “Coming off a tough loss on Friday and with Siena coming in here next Saturday it was very important to get this one today,” Dempsey said. “Heading into that game I have a better feeling about how we are playing.”
A day (or two) makes a big difference.
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