Men's College Basketball
Rider University 90, Saint Peter's College 55
LAWRENCEVILLE- Showtime.
At the south end of Rider University's Alumni Gymnasium there is a stage that once held the Count Basie orchestra and such other headliners as Billy Joel, Eric Clapton and the Charlie Daniels Band.
On Thursday night the bright lights of ESPN3 shown in the Broncs' Zoo and the Rider men's basketball team performed like Ready for Prime Time Players.
In the National MAAC Game of the Week the Broncs defeated Saint Peter's College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game. The victory was the second in a row to begin a three-game home stand.
"We had a good win on Sunday and a good win tonight," said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey, "and hopefully we can get some confidence building. We are certainly playing better and we feel it is crucial to get all three in this home stand."
Senior Jeff Jones (Chester, PA/Monsignor Bonner) scored 19 points off the bench to lead Rider to a victory. "Jeff stepped up and delivered," Dempsey said.
"Our goal was to keep them under 60 points and I'm happy we were able to do that," said Jones, a first-year Bronc after transferring from Virginia. "I'll do whatever it takes for us to win a game and to win the MAAC Championship," Jones said of his role of coming in off the bench. "I think we're ready to get on a roll."
With the victory Rider sweeps the home and home series this season with Saint Peter's (4-17, 3-7 MAAC), the defending MAAC champion.
Rider out-scored Saint Peter's 55-31 in the second half. "That might have been the best half of basketball that we put together all year," Dempsey said.
Holding a 44-33 lead, Rider (8-14, 5-5 MAAC) out-scored SPC 12-0, five points by Jones, to take a 56-33 lead with 13:23 left to play.
Rider scored the first seven points of the second half, four by freshman Junior Fortunat (Quebec, Canada/Roman Catholic), to take a 42-24 lead. Fortunat finished with eight points and five rebounds in just 16 minutes off the bench, making all four of his shots from the field.
"I feel good," Fortunat said in his French Canadian accent. Fortunat has played just 12 games due to a delayed clearance from the NCAA. "I'm getting more comfortable out there, thanks to the hard work our coaches have done with me in practice."
"I think this was his best game and it's been coming," Dempsey said of his 6'9", 220 pound rookie. "He keeps getting better each game. Everyone wants it to happen so fast, because he is a big and talented kid, but it is a process. He is going to have a great career here, but it doesn't mean it is going to be tomorrow. If he continues to grow it will help us grow."
Rider led 26-22 and out-scored SPC 9-2 over the final 3:03 of the first half, four points by freshman Eddie Mitchell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle), to take a 35-24 lead at halftime. Mitchell finished with 10 points and five assists.
Holding a 9-7 lead, Rider went on a 9-2 run, three points by sophomore Anthony Myles (Dover, DE/Poly-Tech), to take an 18-9 lead with 8:05 left in the first half. Myles finished with 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Rider jumped out to a 7-1 lead, all seven points by senior Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram). Gadson finished with 13 points and now has 1350 career points, moving into 15th on the Rider career scoring list.
Rider sophomore Daniel Stewart (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) grabbed 10 rebounds, and senior Brandon Penn (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds, as the Broncs won the battle of the boards 46-30.
Rider won 72-58 at Saint Peter's January 8. The Broncs have won 11 of the last 14 meetings with the Peacocks. Since joining the MAAC Rider is 22-14 against Saint Peter's.
The Broncs and Peacocks have now met 51 times since the series began in 1942-43, with Rider winning 27, including the last three.
Rider hosts Siena Sunday at 2pm. "You put that last one behind you and you come out ready to fight on Sunday and finish this little mini home-stand off on the right foot," Dempsey said. "This one coming up is the biggest of the three game home stand because they have already beaten us. This might be the biggest game of the year for us coming up. We'll be ready to go."
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