LAS VEGAS, NV – Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]) scored a season-high 21 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell to Cal State Northridge, 81-80, in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic Mid-Major Championship Game Sunday afternoon at Orleans Arena. With the loss, the Broncs slip to 5-6, while the Matadors are now 5-8.
 
Northridge built an 11-point first-half lead and took an eight-point advantage into the locker room at halftime. The advantage again grew to 11 on a Terrell Gomez three to open the second-half scoring, but Rider answered with seven-straight, including the first five from Kimar Williams (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution [Florida International]) to cut it to four. Later, a Jordan Allen (Dover, DE/Dover) three and two free throws from Williams at the 12:15 mark gave Rider its first lead since 6-4 less than three minutes into the first half.

The Broncs extended to a four-point cushion on an Ahmad Gilbert (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution [Minnesota]) three-pointer at the 8:28 mark. The teams exchanged 8-0 runs late, with Allen's five-straight points, a Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King/Putnam Science) bucket inside and 1-of-2 Scott free throws giving Rider an 80-79 lead with 16 seconds left. But Rider was whistled for a foul on the other end and Darius Brown II made both ends of a 1-and-1 to put CSUN on top by one with 11 seconds remaining. Allen got off a shot through contact that was blocked and Marshall's putback wouldn't fall as time expired.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Give my team credit for competing minus two guys."

(On the final play) "We wanted to give Jordan a chance. Kimar drove it and flipped it back to him. I thought Jordan should've just raised up for the shot, but he didn't. He drove it, drew contact and there was no call."

(On Kimar Williams and Anthony Durham handling point-guard duties on a day Rider committed a season-low six turnovers) "I was proud of those guys. They did a good job today. That's what we should expect out of them every game and we need them to bring it every game." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- The game was the third in the all-time series with Cal State Northridge. Rider won the first two meetings in February and November 2008.
- Scott was named to the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic Mid-Major Division All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
- Rider played today's game without two starters and All-MAAC performers – Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School) and Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API).
- Today's game was the final contest in a four-game, three-city, two time zone road trip in which Rider will have traveled 8,731 miles for the Las Vegas Classic when it gets home to Lawrenceville.
- The Broncs return to action next Sunday, Dec. 30, when they travel to VCU. Tip-off from Richmond, VA, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.  
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Entering the game at just 48.6 percent (17-35) from the free-throw line, Scott made 11-of-12 to raise his percentage 11 points to 59.6 percent (28-47).
- Cal State Northridge outshot Rider, 55.9 percent (33-59) to 47.3 percent (26-55) from the floor.
- A 57.1 percent free-throw shooting team entering the game, Rider made 22-of-28 attempts (78.6 percent) on the day.
- Rider turned the ball over just six times on the day, easily besting its previous season low of 11. The two teams combined for just 15 turnovers.
- The Broncs are now 0-6 when trailing at the half and 5-0 when leading after 20 minutes.
- Allen scored 17 points and made a team-high three steals.
- Marshall also finished in double figures with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go along with seven rebounds in 21 foul-plagued minutes.
- Devine Eke (Plainfield, NJ/Union Catholic [Maine]) contributed eight points on 3-for-3 from the field and added four rebounds in a season-high 19 minutes off the bench.
- Williams finished with nine points and joined Durham in playing a team-high 37 minutes.