Men's College Basketball
James Madison University 86, Rider University 69
PHILADELPHIA, PA-The Broncs lost to James Madison in the Philly Hoop Group Classic at the Palestra Friday afternoon. "We're in a tough place right now," said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. "We're not playing well yet. We've gotten off to tough start to the season."
For JMU (2-2) junior guard A. J. Davis scored a game-high 29 points, making eight of nine three-pointers. "He did a great job," Dempsey said. "He's a great player. He stepped forward and made shots."
Holding a 55-49 lead, JMU went on a 17-4 run, nine points on three threes by Davis, to take a 72-53 lead with 8:00 left in the second half. JMU shot 55.8 percent from the field and out-rebounded Rider 34-29. JMU made 15 of 21 three-pointers.
"JMU played very well," Dempsey said. "They made a lot of contested threes but there were too many open ones as well."
JMU out-scored Rider 11-2 to start the second half, six points by Davis, to take a 49-40 lead with 16:45 left to play.
For Rider (1-5), senior Brandon Penn (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) scored 21 points, 16 in the first half. "It was good to come back to Philly to play and I was fortunate enough to make some shots early," Penn said.
Trailing 36-29, Rider out-scored JMU 9-2 over the final 3:00 of the first half, five points by junior Jonathon Thompson (Orlando, Fla./Jones), to tie the score at 38-38 at the half. Thompson finished with 13 points and eight assists.
JMU used a 14-3 run, seven points by Humpty Hitchens, to take a 17-11 lead with 12:20 left in the first half. Hitchens finished with 16 points.
Rider jumped out to an 8-3 lead, six points by senior Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram). Gadson finished with 10 points and four assists. A preseason First Team All-MAAC selection, Gadson began the season coming off surgery and has compiled 59 points in six games. "I think Novar might have lost some confidence," Dempsey said. "Maybe it is with the injury, maybe the slow start. If we're going to be a good team we have to get Novar going."
Rider sophomore Daniel Stewart (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) compiled 11 points and 11 rebounds. "It was nice to play in front of all my friends here," Stewart said, 'but right now we're just focused on trying to win."
Rider and James Madison split their only other two meetings back in the early 1980s.
The Broncs and Dukes have now met three times in men's basketball, the last meeting being a 76-68 Rider victory in the first round of the Governor's Classic held December 2, 1983 in Rider's Alumni Gymnasium. The first meeting was a 70-52 JMU win on December 13, 1980 at JMU.
Rider takes on La Salle Saturday at 4:30pm in Rider's fourth and final Hoop Group Classic game. "We have to start figuring it out," Dempsey said. "We're not used to losing and there is frustration right now. Losing is frustrating all the time, but especially when you think you have the guys to win. It is just not happening right now."
"There is always something that can be said (to turn things around) but it is more about just going out and doing it," Penn said. "'We have to go out and do it. Hopefully we'll respond tomorrow with a win."
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