Men's College Basketball

Saint Peter's University 73, Rider University 61

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ— A champion is described as the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.  On Rider's annual Night of Champions, it was the Saint Peter's men's basketball team that was up to the challenge, coming away the victor in the first conference competition of the season.

The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Saint Peter's Wednesday.

“Rider is going to be good,” said Saint Peter's head coach John Dunne.  “This was a quality road win early in the season for us. Rider will figure it out and be there at the end of the season.”

“I thought Saint Peter's played really well,” said Rider head coach Kevin Baggett, the 2015 MAAC Coach of the Year.  “They took the fight to us from start to finish. Give John (Dunne) credit for having his team ready to go and play at a high level.”

The win ended Saint Peter's four-game losing streak.

SPU out-scored Rider 18-6 to start the second half, 10 points by Antwon Portley, to take a 48-29 lead with 13:24 left to play. “They got after us and we never responded,” Baggett said.

Portley finished with a game-high 25 points.

Saint Peter's (2-4, 1-0 MAAC) jumped out to a 15-6 lead and led 30-23 at the half.

Rider's only lead of the game was 2-0. “We have a lot of guys playing with limited confidence right now,” Baggett said.

For Rider (1-6, 0-1 MAAC) graduate student Teddy Okereafor (London, England/VCU) scored 17 points, making five of seven three-pointers. Rider freshman Kealen Ives (Providence, RI/Classical) compiled 11 points and five assists off the bench.

Also for Rider, junior Jimmie Taylor (Branford, Fla./Suwannee) added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Saint Peter's out-rebounded Rider 37-26, including 12 offensive rebounds and out-scored Rider 26-16 in the paint.

“We're just in a funk right now and can't get out of it,” Baggett said.

The game was part of the hOURglass Rivalry series with Rider, Saint Peter's and Monmouth.

Rider has won 16 of the last 22 meetings with Saint Peter's, eight of the last 11, including both meetings during the 2014-15 regular season. Since joining the MAAC Rider is 27-17 against Saint Peter's. The two teams have now met 59 times since the series began in 1942-43, with Rider winning 32.

Rider plays another early-season MAAC game Friday, December 4, traveling to Fairfield for a 7pm game. That will be Rider's sixth game (five on the road in four different cities and two countries) in 14 days. “We just need to practice to get out of some bad habits we are forming,” Baggett said. “We haven't been able to practice as much as we need to.”

Practice. It is what makes champions.

-ru-