Men's College Basketball
Iona College 83, Rider University 59
BRIDGEPORT, CT-Usually a 23-win season is rewarded with a postseason tournament invitation. Unfortunately for the Rider Broncs, it won't be the NCAA tournament.
Despite 19 points by junior Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) and 16 points by senior Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy), the Broncs fell to Iona in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals, held at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.
"Certainly a tough night for us," said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. "It is tough to get this far, to get to this spot and then not play a good game in a big moment."
The loss snapped Rider's six-game winning streak.
Trailing 40-33 early in the second half, Gadson single-handedly out-scored Iona 9-6 to cut the lead to four, 46-42 with 16:50 left to play, but that was as close as the Broncs (23-10) could get. "We hung in there for a while and tried to make a game of it," Dempsey said.
Iona (22-10) went on a 12-2 run as five different Gaels scored, taking a 58-44 lead with 13:21 left to play and the Gaels were on their way to their ninth straight victory and a berth in the MAAC title game against Saint Peter's. "Iona played great," Dempsey said.
Holding a 14-12 lead, Iona went on a 13-5 run, eight points by Rashon Dwight, to take a 27-17 lead, and Iona led 38-30 at the half. "We were fortunate that it was just an eight-point game at halftime," Dempsey said. "'We didn't have a whole lot good going on."
Dwight finished with 19 points, making five three-pointers.
Senior Mike Ringgold (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), a third team All-MAAC selection, once again showed why he is so highly respected as a fierce competitor, playing 31 minutes despite a badly sprained ankle suffered yesterday, a bruised hip suffered yesterday and a bruised chest suffered earlier in the week.
The injuries, however, kept Ringgold's numbers down to four points and two rebounds, along with a team-high four assists.
"I don't want anybody to make excuses for me," said Ringgold, who had trouble walking to the post-game press conference. "It's not a torn ACL or anything like that. I know I tried my hardest. It's tough to lose, period, but this is tough because we knew we had a good chance to win the whole thing."
One of the top defensive players in the MAAC for four years, Ringgold was also hampered at the defensive end of the court, playing on one leg.
Rider junior Brandon Penn (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) added nine points and a game-high eight rebounds. Penn compiled 15 rebounds in his two tournament games.
Iona guard Jermel Jenkins came in off the bench and led all scorers with 20 points, making six three-point field goals. "Jenkins was really the key," Dempsey said. "He stretched the game. He took it from what was still a competitive basketball game to a blow out by the end."
Rider and Iona split the regular season series this year, with the visiting team winning both times.
Robinson was two for two from the foul line and has now made 63 of his last 67 foul shots. Robinson ranks 11th in the nation in free throw percentage (.906).
"It's hard to lose any game," Robinson said.
Iona shot 50 percent from three-point range (14-28). "It seemed every shot they took went in," Dempsey said. "They got into a great rhythm."
The Broncs will now head back to Lawrenceville and weigh their postseason choices. The choice they wanted most, however, is no longer available.
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