Men's College Basketball
Home Exhibition Game Saturday
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Rider University men's basketball fans will get a sneak peek at the 2015-16 Broncs this Saturday when Rider hosts the University of the Sciences in a 4pm exhibition game in Alumni Gymnasium.
“The U. of Sciences players are really well coached and have a very good team,” said Rider head coach Kevin Baggett. “Last year in an exhibition game I remember them upsetting Drexel University.”
Rider is coming off of a 21-win season and its second second-place finish in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season in the last three years.
With the return of nine players, including seven who have played in 50 or more college games and four that have played in 90 or more games, Rider has more depth than any Bronc team in recent past.
On Saturday the Broncs will take on the Division II Devils from the University of the Sciences. The Devils were 25-6 last year, 17-2 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.
U. of Sciences finished in first place in the CACC South but second place Philadelphia University won the CACC Championship Tournament last year.
Rider's deep list of returnees is led by seniors Teddy Okereafor, Zedric Sadler, Khalil Alford and Shawn Valentine, and juniors Jimmie Taylor, Kahlil Thomas and Xavier Lundy.
A Preseason First Team All-MAAC selection this year, Okereafor was a Second Team All-MAAC selection last year, his first at Rider after playing 58 games at VCU. Okereafor led Rider in five categories, including scoring and assists. Okereafor played with the Great Britain National team this past summer.
Sadler, a veteran of 95 Rider games, was named the MAAC 6th Man of the Year last season. Sadler has made 85 three-pointers in his career.
Alford is a veteran of 89 games, all off the bench while Valentine is a veteran of 95 games.
Taylor, a Preseason Third Team All-MAAC selection this year, has been second on the team in minutes played the last two seasons, compiling 11.3 points per game while shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range.
Thomas enjoyed a fine rookie season but was set back with a leg injury last year that caused him to miss 13 games.
When Thomas was injured Lundy stepped in and made 20 starts last season.
Rider defeated Division II Kutztown 62-51 in an exhibition game last year.
The regular season begins Friday, November 13, when Rider hosts cross-town rival Princeton at 7pm. “Saturday's game against U of Sciences will be a good game to help us prepare for our following weeks opponent which is Princeton,” said Baggett, the 2015 MAAC Coach of the Year.
Saturday's exhibition game will have the radio broadcast streamed live over the internet at 107.7 FM the Bronc. GameWatcher (Live Stats) will also be available for free on the GoBroncs website for all home games and most away games.
-ru-
