RICHMOND, VA – Five Broncs scored in double figures, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell to Virginia Commonwealth University, 90-79, Sunday afternoon to close out non-conference play. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 5-7, while the Rams are now 9-4.  
 
After the Broncs got on the board first, VCU went on a 9-0 run and never trailed again. The Rams' lead would swell to as many as 23 on the strength of 63 percent (20-32) shooting from the floor, including 50 percent (6-12) from long range. Rider scored the half's final six points to cut the deficit to 49-33 after 20 minutes.

Rider outscored VCU, 46-41, in the second half, but could draw to no closer than the final 11-point margin.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We tried to compete and battle. We've just got to get back and get better. We've got to defend better. We're giving up way too many points. Guys have to commit to that side of it. Again, as I've said, I'm sounding like a broken record – we can score points, but we've got to be able to get stops."

"I called him over during the game and just told him I was proud of him and what he was getting done. I told him to keep competing. That's the Kimar Williams that we needed to see earlier and now we're finally starting to see him evolve into what we thought he would be for our team and helping Stevie out off the ball and on the ball. And (Ahmad Gilbert) I thought did some good things – obviously made some shots."

(On the message to his team heading into league play) "Zero and zero. We've got to get back. Guys have to want to practice. We've got to do the little things – blocking out, defensive things that we're breaking down on. We've got to get better at those things and get guys bought in and committed to that end. That's the end that's hurting us the most. When we feel like we've got a chance to get back into the game, we're leaking on that side, so to speak. I've got to get guys to buy into that end and really embrace it and if we do that, we should be alright in the conference." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- The game was the first in the all-time series with Virginia Commonwealth.
- Rider played its second-straight game without All-MAAC performer Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School) due to injury.
- Rider is in the midst of a six-game stretch away from home in which it will travel through three time zones and five cities, covering 9,545 miles. The stretch concludes on Jan. 3, when the Broncs open conference play at Fairfield.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- VCU shot 53.2 percent (33-62) for the game, including 48.3 percent (14-29) from long range.
- The Broncs countered with 47.6 percent (30-63) shooting of their own, including 10-of-24 from deep (41.7 percent).
- Jordan Allen (Dover, DE/Dover), Ahmad Gilbert (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution [Minnesota]), Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API) and Kimar Williams (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution [Florida International]) each scored 12 points. Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]) added 11.
- The double-digit scoring was the first as Broncs for both Gilbert and Williams. Gilbert eclipsed his previous career-high of 11, established in his freshman year at the University of Minnesota.
- Led by seven assists from Jordan, five from Anthony Durham (Philadelphia, PA/Abington/Putnam Science) and four from Williams, the Broncs had 20 assists for the game – their second-most of the season (21, Nov. 24 at Wagner).
- Jordan (392 career assists) is now just one dime behind Ryan Thompson (393 assists) for seventh all-time at Rider and two behind Justin Robinson (394 assists) for sixth.
- Williams made a career-high five steals. He'd made four steals twice in his two years at Florida International.
- Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King/Putnam Science) led the Broncs with seven rebounds. Jordan also added six rebounds.
- Gilbert did all of his scoring on 4-of-5 shooting from long range in 11 minutes off the bench.
- Allen made three or more three-point field goals for the 25^th time in 43 collegiate games.
- Though Rider had one more turnover than VCU (14-13), the Broncs outscored the Rams, 20-10, off turnovers.
- Rider also outscored VCU, 17-4, on second chances and 21-13 on fast-break points.
- The Broncs are now 0-7 when trailing at the half and 5-0 when leading after 20 minutes.