Men's College Basketball

Rider University 75, Quinnipiac University 52

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ— Rider University junior Jimmie Taylor is one of just two MAAC players to be a nominee for the National Association of Basketball Coaches Allstate Good Works Team, a distinguished award that shines a spotlight on a select group of players who have shown dedication to service in their communities.

On Sunday afternoon, Taylor's Good Works helped serve the Rider basketball community a conference win. His distinguished play deserved the spotlight.

A large portion of the Northeast corridor had to dig its way out of Winter Storm Jonas Saturday.  On Sunday, Jimmie Taylor found a way to dig himself out of his recent slump. “I just try to show up every day and try to get better,” said Taylor.

Taylor, who scored just nine points in his last three games combined, scored 14 on Sunday. “I'm happy for Jimmie,” said Rider head coach Kevin  Baggett. “We've needed Jimmie from the start of the season. He went through a little lull.”

Taylor (Branford, Fla./Suwannee) and junior forward Kahlil Thomas (Parkway, Fla./Blanche Ely) combined for 28 points to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Quinnipiac Sunday afternoon.

The Broncs (7-13, 3-6 MAAC) have now won three of their last four games and four of their last five home games.

The loss was the fourth in a row for Quinnipiac (5-12, 2-6 MAAC) and eighth in the last nine games.

The Broncs scored the first seven points of the second half, three by Taylor, and took a 49-30 lead with 14:42 left to play.

Rider led 37-27 at the half, as Thomas compiled nine points and six rebounds. Thomas finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds. It was the seventh double-double in the last 10 games for Thomas. “Lilly continues to rack up the 'double-doubles' and play like an All-Conference player,” Baggett said. “People forget he missed almost all of last year with an injury. He has always been good but he is finding himself now.”

Holding a 15-11 lead, Rider out-scored Quinnipiac 10-3, five points by Thomas, to take a 25-14 lead with 7:28 left in the first half. “I just try to play as hard as I can as long as I can,” Thomas said.

Rider jumped out to a 12-2 lead, six points by Taylor. “It was nice to see the first one go in,” Taylor said.  “My teammates and coaches have confidence in me and I feed off of that.”

“It was a great job, start to finish,” Baggett said. “It makes a huge difference getting out to a good start like that.”

Also for Rider, senior Khalil Alford (Raleigh, NC/Fishburne Military) finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Alford compiled a career-high 16 points on Thursday at Siena.

Rider graduate student Teddy Okereafor (London, England/VCU) added 10 points and five assists.

“I thought it was a team effort.” Baggett said.

Quinnipiac missed its first seven shots of the game and was one for its first 11 from the field. QU finished shooting just 27.7 percent (18-65) for the game.

QU senior guard Giovanni McLean, who is averaging 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, along with 3.5 assists, did not score his first points until 15 minutes into the game but finished with 14 points.

Rider lost by four points at Quinnipiac on January 4 after sweeping the series last year.

The QU Bobcats are second in the nation in rebounding and first in offensive rebounds. On Sunday QU barely out-rebounded Rider 42-40. “Every time we play Quinnipiac we know we have to come ready to box out,” said Thomas.  “That's the main way they score.”

Rider travels to Saint Peter's for an ESPN3 game Thursday, January 28 at 8pm.

Another chance for Taylor to be in the spotlight.

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