Box Score Men's College Basketball
Fairfield University 74, Rider University 70
BRIDGEPORT, CT— When Rider travels many host teams have some trouble pronouncing Teddy Okereafor's name. On Friday night, the Fairfield Stags had more trouble guarding him.
Despite a season-high 25 points by Okereafor, the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Fairfield Friday evening.
“I'm encouraged in the fact that we played better,” said Rider head coach Kevin Baggett, trying to find something positive. “We just can't guard anybody.”
Fairfield (4-4, 1-1 MAAC) out-scored Rider 10-4, four points by Jonathan Kasibabu, to take a 67-63 lead with 4:30 left to play. That was the 16th and final lead change of the game. Kasibabu finished with 14 points.
Rider junior Xavier Lundy (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) scored with 3:10 left to cut the lead to 69-68, and Okereafor made two foul shots with 1:48 left to cut the lead to 71-70, but that was as close as the Broncs could get. Lundy finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Okereafor made back-to-back three-pointers to give Rider (1-7, 0-2 MAAC) a 59-57 lead with 9:50 left to play. “Teddy was more aggressive tonight,” Baggett said. “He's shooting shots we need him to shoot.”
“We played faster tonight,” said Okereafor, who made five of nine three-pointers and all six of his foul shots.
Trailing 40-37, Rider went on a 14-6 run, five points by freshman Kealen Ives (Providence, RI/Classical), to take a 51-46 lead with 14:31 left to play. Making his first collegiate start, Ives finished with 10 points and three assists along with four rebounds. “Having Kealen out there opened things up for everybody, especially Teddy,” Baggett said.
“After the Saint Peter's game I was told I'd be starting tonight,” said the 5'9” Ives. “I didn't prepare any differently. I've been starting my entire life. This is a different level but I'm confident that I can play.”
“We needed another ball-handler on the floor tonight,” Baggett said for his reasoning for starting Ives. “I thought Kealen did a good job. For a freshman he did some good things.”
The first 10 minutes of the game saw 10 lead changes and three ties.
Rider went on a 10-4 run over the final 2:44 of the first half, five points by Okereafor, to tie the score at 37-37 at halftime.
Trailing 19-18, Fairfield out-scored Rider 11-2 to take a 29-21 lead with 5:00 left in half.
For the Broncs it was their sixth game in 15 days in five different cities in two different countries. In 2002 Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson said the word 'practice' 22 times in a famous rant about missing a practice. The Rider Broncs wish they could practice, maybe not 22 times, but more than they've been able to.
“We haven't been able to practice, that's true,” Baggett said, 'but tonight we just needed to have the will to guard guys.”
Rider and Fairfield have now met 58 times since the series began in 1951-52, with Rider winning 28.
Rider came into the game having won the last four meetings with Fairfield and 11 of the last 19. Rider is 21-19 against Fairfield since joining the MAAC.
The last time Rider was 1-7 was when the Broncs began the 2011-12 season 1-10.
Rider returns home Tuesday to host Wagner December 8 at 7pm.
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