Men's College Basketball
Siena College 80, Rider University 54
LAWRENCEVILLE-Despite a career-high 25 points off the bench from sophomore Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram), the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to first place Siena Friday night.
"We took a beating," said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. "Siena played great and we played poorly and the results speak for themselves."
Edwin Ubiles led four Saints in double figures with 21 points. "Ubiles is a good player," said Rider senior Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), who added 10 points and five assists. "He got it going today."
Thompson has scored 188 points in his last eight games. "Novar played great," Thompson added. "He was trying to rally us."
Siena (23-6, 16-1 MAAC) scored the first seven points of the second half and out-scored Rider 14-4 over the first five minutes of the second half, six points by Clarence Jackson, to take a 61-32 lead with 15:30 left to play. Jackson finished with 16 points.
"They got into a really good rhythm and were clicking on all cylinders," Dempsey said of Siena, the two-time defending MAAC champions.
First place Siena has now beaten Rider (15-15, 8-9 MAAC) nine of the last 12 meetings, including both this year, but Rider has defeated Siena three of the last eight meetings. "We knew we were playing a team with a lot of talent, with an excellent coach, that has given us problems in the past," said Siena head coach Fran McCaffery. "This was a very important game for us."
Holding a 22-18 lead, Siena out-scored Rider 23-5, six points by Ryan Rossiter and five points by Alex Franklin, to take a 45-23 lead with 3:00 left in the first half, and Siena led 47-28 at half time.
Rossiter finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Franklin finished with 12 points.
Gadson had 16 of Rider's 28 first half points. "Novar had a real nice game," Dempsey said. "He played hard and played well. That was a good sign. Hopefully a sign of things to come."
"If I keep working hard I should be alright," Gadson said. "Tonight I was just trying to provide a spark off the bench when we needed it. It just wasn't enough."
Also for Rider sophomore Brandon Penn (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) added eight points and eight rebounds.
Rider went to the foul line just four times, making two, while Siena was 11 of 17 from the line and 31 of 56 from the field (.554). Rider shot 28 three-pointers, making eight. "We got down and starting going for the fences," Dempsey said. "28 threes and just four free throws is a recipe for disaster."
The score was tied at 12-12 before Siena went on an 8-0 run, four points by Jackson, to take a 20-12 lead with 11:30 left in the first half.
Gadson hit a three-point field goal to give Rider its first lead, 10-9, five minutes into the game.
With the Rider loss and the Niagara win the Broncs fall to sixth place, tied with Canisius (14-15, 8-9 MAAC) behind fifth place Niagara (17-13, 9-8 MAAC).
The Broncs host Canisius Sunday at 2pm in the regular season finale. "We have to put this game behind us and get ready for Canisius Sunday," Dempsey said. "We have an important game Sunday. We need to find a way to win."
Graduating seniors Robbie Myers and Ryan Thompson will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
"Robbie has been a great kid to have in the program," Dempsey said. "He's hung in there and his attitude has been great."
"I'm looking forward to the MAAC tournament," Thompson said. "It is a whole new season, a whole different game. We have to play well against Canisius and get ready for the tournament, where we can turn everything around."
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