LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University men's basketball team erased a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Manhattan, 77-73, for its seventh-straight win Thursday night at Alumni Gymnasium. With the win, the Broncs (18-7, 11-2 MAAC) clinch a top-four seed in the MAAC Championships and the accompanying first-round bye with five games left. Manhattan slips to 11-14 (6-7 MAAC) with the loss.  

A tight game early, Manhattan built a seven-point lead with eight of the final 10 points in the first half to take a 37-30 lead into the break. The Jaspers shot 58.3 percent (14-24) in the period, while Rider was hampered by 12 turnovers, 10 fouls and five charges called against the Broncs. Jordan Allen (Dover, DE/Dover) made four of his first five shots for nine points in the half.

Rider used a 9-0 run early in the second half to retake the lead. Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]) scored the first four points in the run and Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Calloway) followed with the next four. The Broncs would build the lead to as many as eight points twice, the last on a Scott lay-up with 6:14 remaining. But the Jaspers wouldn't go away, scoring eight-straight points, five from the free-throw line and a game-tying three from Calvin Crawford with 4:18 left.

Manhattan took its first lead since the 16:51 mark on a pair of Zane Waterman free throws with 3:06 left. But following 1-of-2 Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API) free throws with 2:39 left, Vaughn scored four points on one trip with 1-of-2 free throws, a rebound of his own miss on the second, and a conventional three-point play with 2:34 remaining.

Manhattan still wouldn't go away, once again tying the game on a Waterman bucket inside with 59 seconds left. But Jordan scored on a floater with 38.5 seconds remaining, Vaughn came away with a steal on the other end and Jordan made two more free throws to push the lead to two possessions. The Jaspers couldn't get any closer than to within two in the final 11 seconds.  

Quotes & Notes
"We didn't play our best brand of basketball, but we found a way to win. Stevie hit two big free throws. I thought Dimencio did an unbelievable job tonight willing us. I thought Jordan hit some big shots for us. It was a struggle though. Give Manhattan credit. Those guys did some good things against us. We got into foul trouble. We never really got into a flow and we just had to find a way to win, which we did, which I'm happy about."

"It's a sign of a good team when you find ways to win. We've got to play smarter. I definitely know that. I don't think we played nearly as smart as we could have and should have. But again, a good team finds a way to win when you have a bunch of guys struggling. Stevie got into foul trouble and I thought he struggled tonight. Some other guys stepped up. I thought Kealen did a good job replacing Stevie and doing some things. Again, we have a number of guys – that's why we're a good team – we have a number of guys who can contribute and there were different guys tonight. Normally, we're used to Stevie doing it, but in the end, he hit a big lay-up and then the big free throws."

"What you said about Stevie – he's a winner. He makes plays when we need him. He's done it since he's been here and he knows he's the heart and soul. It starts with him. We struggled because he struggled tonight. But he's got guys like Dimencio and other guys that can compliment him and help him. But I thought our defense in the second half locked in and didn't give up as many three's." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

"We shouldn't be used to (playing in close games), but I think we are. I think we've got a group of guys that, when the game is on the line, I think we step up."

"It was definitely frustrating getting in foul trouble. I hate getting in foul trouble. I think I need to get better with my fouls to keep my team in the game."

"I just want to step up and make big plays for my team. Any big play – a pass, a shot, anything." – Rider sophomore point guard Stevie Jordan

- Rider now leads the all-time series with Manhattan, 29-23, including the last four.
- Rider's seven-game winning streak is its longest since a 10-game streak in 2007-08.
- The Broncs' 11-2 start to league play also ties the 2007-08 squad for the quickest to 11 MAAC wins in Rider's 21 years in the league.  
- Rider entered the game with its highest RPI ranking of the season at No. 65.
- Scott compiled his team-leading sixth double-double of the season.
- Rider returns to action Saturday, when it travels to Marist. Tip-off from McCann Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Broncs by the Numbers
- After Manhattan shot 58.3 percent (14-24) in the first half, Rider limited the Jaspers to 35.7 percent (10-28) in the second.
- Tonight's game marked just the second time this season that Rider had two players score 20 or more points in the game contest (Vaughn – 23, Allen – 20) and the first in a win (Tyere Marshall – 23, Vaughn – 20, Dec. 2 at Drexel).  
- Rider outrebounded Manhattan, 42-27, and outscored the Jaspers, 14-2, on second chances.
- The Broncs also enjoyed a 10-0 advantage in fast-break points.
- Scott's double-double consisted of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
- Vaughn tied his career high with three blocks.
- Jordan dished out two assists to push his career total to 305, pulling him into a tie for 14^th in program history with Marcus Pryor.
- Allen made 6-of-10 field-goal attempts, including all three of his attempts from inside the arc.
- Kealen Washington-Ives (Providence, RI/Classical/Putnam Science) tied his season high with four assists.