Men's College Basketball

Siena College 84, Rider University 64

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ— It is said that Saints are not made, but are recognized, recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness.

Siena Saint Brett Bisping had an exceptional game Friday night and deserved to be recognized recently.

Siena junior forward Brett Bisping, the reigning MAAC Player of the Week, came into the contest needing five points for 1,000 in his career and scored 24 points, to lead the Saints to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory at Rider Friday evening. Bisping also grabbed 18 rebounds.

“This game had me worried all week,” said Siena head coach Jimmy Patsos. “Bisping is shooting better than ever and hasn't lost his commitment to the backboards.”

“Start to finish we were awful,” said Rider head coach Kevin Baggett. “That sums it up.”

For Rider junior Kahlil Thomas (Parkway, Fla./Blanche Ely) scored 19 points and senior Khalil Alford (Raleigh, NC/Fishburne Military) scored a career-high 18. “Thomas is tough and for some reason I knew Alford would hurt us,” Patsos said.

“Kahlil has been a real consistent player for us,” Baggett said. “We need more guys than just him playing well.”

Siena (19-9, 12-5 MAAC) has now won eight of its last 10 games.

Rider (11-17, 7-10 MAAC) used a pair of 7-0 runs, cutting the lead to 66-53 midway through the second half and 74-62 with 4:20 remaining. That was as close as the Broncs could get.

The Saints out-scored Rider 15-5 to start the second half, taking a 61-41 lead with 13:45 remaining.

Siena used an 11-2 run to take a 32-21 lead with 6:40 left in the first half and Siena led 46-36 at halftime.

Siena made 11 three-point field goals (for 21, .524 percent) and out-rebounded Rider 44-28.

The Saints scored 46 points in the first half, the most Rider has given up in a half all year. “There were too many breakdowns, too much lack of communication,” Baggett said. “We've never played our zone that poorly.”

Rider was forced to play zone due to having just eight players dressed. Senior Zedric Sadler (Detroit, Mich./Cody) suffered a sprained ankle last game and did not dress Friday. “We all need to step up with Zed not in the lineup," Alford said. “He's a big part of our team, especially defensively.”

Also for Siena, junior forward Javion Ogunyemi compiled 17 points and nine rebounds.

Junior guard Marcus Wright, Siena's leading scorer (17.3 ppg) who has been sidelined since December 26, saw his first action in almost eight weeks Friday and compiled eight points and five assists.

Siena was 10-5 without Wright. “He just adds more to an already good team,” Baggett said.

The Broncs lost 63-52 at Siena on January 21.

The Broncs make their final two road trips of the regular season next week, to Marist on February 23 and to Monmouth for an ESPN2 game February 26. “We're going to come back tomorrow, get better, work at it and correct what we did wrong,” Baggett said.  “We're going to get ready to play Tuesday.”

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