LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Redshirt sophomore guard
Jordan Allen (Dover, DE/Dover) led five Broncs in double-figures with 20 points as the Rider University men's basketball team outlasted Norfolk State, 81-71, Wednesday night at Alumni Gym. With the win, the Broncs even their record at 3-3, while the Spartans are now 4-7.
The Broncs built a lead of 18 points in the first half on
Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson's (Landsdowne, PA/Monsignor Bonner) slam at the 3:55 mark. But the Spartans outscored the Broncs, 17-5, to close out the half and scored the first nine points of the second half to take their first lead since 5-4 less than two minutes into the game.
Following 10 lead changes, the Broncs took the lead for good with a 10-0 run late.
Dimencio Vaughn's (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School) strong drive with 4:36 left sparked the run and the Broncs. Allen followed with a fast-break bucket and Rider scored the final six points of the run and its final eight points of the game from the free-throw line.
Quotes & Notes
"We'll take the win. Have to get better. Have to defend better. I thought we did a better job rebounding. We've got to make free throws. It's going to cost us if we don't make them. Our guys make them in practice, but we've got to make them in games."
"Guys have to do what they're supposed to do. We have to come together as a team and guys have to understand that it's about everybody on the team and not any one individual. We've not been playing like a team, to be honest with you. We've had those discussions and we've had a couple of good practices leading up to today. I think the guys got the message and they certainly want to be a team."
– Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett
- The game was the first in the all-time series between Rider and Norfolk State.
- Rider is now 2-0 this season at home and has won 15 of its last 16 at Alumni Gym, dating back to the final home game of 2016-17.
- Rider played without the services of starter
Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King/Putnam Science) and 2018 MAAC Sixth Player of the Year
Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]), due to a coaches' decision and illness, respectively. Both are expected back Saturday against Robert Morris.
- Ogemuno-Johnson and
Kimar Williams (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution [Florida International]) made their first starts for the Broncs.
- The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they play host to Robert Morris at 3 p.m. on ESPN3.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Allen hit 7-of-12 shots off the bench, including 4-of-9 from long range. It marked the 23
rd time in 37 career games that he's hit at least three trifectas, including each of the last five games.
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Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API) scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half. For the game, he hit 7-of-10 attempts, including 3-of-5 from long range. Jordan also dished out three assists to reach 372 for his career, tying him with Jonathan Thompson for eighth all-time at Rider.
- Vaughn finished with 13 points, six rebounds and a career-high five steals.
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Anthony Durham (Philadelphia, PA/Abington/Putnam Science) added 11 points, while Ogemuno-Johnson established season high's with 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
- The Broncs outscored Norfolk State, 17-5 off turnovers, 18-9 on second chances and 27-17 in bench scoring.
- For the game, Norfolk State outshot Rider, 45.3 percent (24-53) to 43.3 percent (29-67) from the floor.
- Rider took a 39-37 edge on the glass, including a 16-10 edge in offensive rebounds. Ogemuno-Johnson and
Devine Eke (Plainfield, NJ/Union Catholic [Maine]) each had four offensive boards.
