JERSEY CITY, NJ – Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Calloway) scored a career-high 34 points as the Rider University men's basketball team defeated hOURglass rival Saint Peter's, 88-84, Thursday night at the Yanitelli Center. With the win, the Broncs improve to 12-7 (5-2 MAAC), while the Peacocks (8-10, 2-5 MAAC) were dealt their first loss at home in six tries this season.

Saint Peter's built a double-digit lead in the first half on the strength of 18 points from Davauhnte Turner, including 4-of-6 three-point attempts. Vaughn matched him with 18 points on 7-of-9 attempts (4-5 3ptFG), but the Peacocks used a 16-4 advantage in points off turnovers to take a 43-37 lead after 20 minutes.

The Broncs wasted little time retaking the lead as Jordan Allen (Dover, DE/Dover), who was held off the scoreboard in the first half, scored 10 points in the first two minutes of the latter stanza. The Peacocks briefly retook two-point leads twice in the first six minutes of the period. But a 14-0 Rider run gave the Broncs their largest lead of the game, 68-53, with 8:31 remaining. Saint Peter's wouldn't go away, whittling the deficit down to two with 43 seconds remaining. But Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API) was fouled on a drive and made both free throws. Rider got another defensive stop and Vaughn's lay-up with seven seconds left put the game out of reach.   
 
Quotes & Notes
"This is a young group trying to learn how to win. Fortunately, we did win. Last year, we came down here and lost. So there are some pro's. But we've just got to get better."

"We've got to put the ball in Stevie's hands. More often than not, he's going to make the right decisions and get it to the right guys in the right position for them to be successful."

"Give (Dimencio Vaughn) credit. He was making three-pointers, he was getting to the basket, he was making his free throws. He's a multi-talented player. He can defend, he rebounds for you. Dimencio's really good and he's only going to get better. I'm happy to see his progression." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

"I just channeled my inner basketball God spirit. I prayed before the game. I just let the game come to me and it was flowing."

"I talked to Jordan, got his head right. He came out doing what he does best – shooting, going to the basket."

"I just listen to Stevie. He's the floor general. He puts me in certain spots where it's better for me to get an opportunity to score." – Rider sophomore Dimencio Vaughn
 
"My teammates and my coaches challenged me at halftime and told me I needed to step up, offensively and defensively and just being a better team player." – Rider redshirt freshman Jordan Allen
 
- Rider now leads the all-time series with Saint Peter's, 34-29.
- Jordan returned to the Rider line-up after missing the final 23 minutes Sunday at Iona due to injury.
- The Peacocks had won their first five games at home this season.
- Devine Eke (Plainfield, NJ/Union Catholic [Maine]) made his first start for the Broncs.
- Rider returns to action Saturday, when it plays host to Marist at 7 p.m.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider shot a season-high 54.5 percent (30-55) from the floor, including 10-of-16 three-point attempts (62.5 percent).
- Vaughn's 34 points are the most by a Rider player this season.
- Vaughn did his damage on 13-of-18 shooting from the floor, 5-of-6 from long range and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. His previous career-high was 20, established Dec. 2 at Drexel.
- Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King/Putnam Science) scored 15 points off the bench, including 7-of-8 shooting from the free-throw line. He also had a career-high four assists.
- Allen scored all 13 of his points in the second half, with 10 coming in the first two minutes of the second half. He made 5-of-8 attempts in the second half.
- With six assists, Jordan moved into 17^th all-time at Rider with 278 assists, passing Darrick Suber (275).
- Rider was outscored in the paint by a MAAC opponent for the first time this season, with the Peacocks taking a 39-36 advantage. However, Rider did significant damage on second chances, outscoring Saint Peter's, 20-5.