Men's College Basketball

Rider University 80, Siena College 68

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ— The Siena Saints came marching into Rider's Alumni Gymnasium Sunday having won three of their last four games, including a conference win over Quinnipiac.

Siena was picked to finish second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this year after winning the CBI tournament last year.

On Sunday, however, the Saints fell from grace.

Junior Teddy Okereafor (London, England/VCU) compiled 28 points and nine rebounds to lead Rider to a MAAC victory over Siena Sunday afternoon.

“It was a great win,” said Rider head coach Kevin Baggett. “To be 1-0 in the league and to win at home is always great.”

Rider is now 3-0 at home this year.

Trailing 42-39, Rider (4-5, 1-0 MAAC) went on a 13-0 run, five points each by Okereafor and graduate student Anthony D'Orazio (Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic), to take a 52-42 lead with 13:29 left to play. 

Seventy-three years ago today's date was said to be a date that would live in infamy, when the Imperial Japanese Navy, without warning or declaration of war, attacked the U.S. Naval base in Hawaii.

Fifty-seven years ago, however, was the day that 12-time NBA all-star, three-time NBA MVP and three-time World Champion Larry Bird was born.

With D'Orazio playing in a style reminiscent of 'Larry the Legend' Rider overcame an attack from Siena.

Siena (3-4, 1-1 MAAC) scored the final five points of the first half, cutting Rider's lead to 34-30, and out-scored Rider 9-3 to start the second half, taking a 39-37 lead with 16:15 left to play.

Five consecutive points by D'Orazio, however, gave Rider a 44-42 lead, and the Broncs never trailed again.

“I'm certainly glad to have Anthony in our program,” Baggett said of D'Orazio, a graduate of Lehigh. “He brings a sense of calmness and experience.”

On Sunday D'Orazio brought 12 points, five assists, six rebounds and three steals.

“When Coach Baggett brought me here he sat me down and told me what my role would be,” said D'Orazio, who played three years at Lehigh before red-shirting his senior year with an injury.  “Whether I'm coming in off the bench or starting (has started the last two games), it really doesn't make a difference. I'm just here to provide some energy and maybe some leadership.”

“Siena will be a team to be reckoned with at the end of the year,” Baggett said. “I'm certainly glad to have a chance to beat them early in the season.”

Trailing 11-10, Rider out-scored Siena 16-7, four points off the bench from junior Zedric Sadler (Detroit, Mich/Cody), to take a 26-18 lead with 3:43 left in the first half. Sadler finished with 11 points, three assists and four steals.

Rider jumped out to an 8-5 lead in the first five minutes, four points each by senior Matt Lopez (Erial, NJ/Washington Twp.) and Okereafor. “I was really excited with the way our team came out and had a good start,” Baggett said. “Teddy rebounded from a couple of games when he was struggling.”

Lopez finished with nine points and seven rebounds.

Rider swept Siena in the two games played during the 2012-13 season, and Siena swept the two games with Rider last year.

It's the fourth time in the last six years the Rider and Siena have played in December.

Rider is 13-22 against Siena in MAAC regular season games. Rider and Siena have met 40 times since the series began in 1976-77, with Rider winning 14.

Rider travels to Iona for a MAAC game Wednesday.

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