LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University Men's Basketball Head Coach Kevin Baggett has announced his team's 2018-19 non-conference schedule. The Broncs will play three home games prior to league play against Coppin State (Nov. 19), Norfolk State (Dec. 12) and Robert Morris (Dec. 15). The 2018 MAAC Regular Season Champions open the season on Nov. 6 at the University of Central Florida (UCF), before playing true road games at Wagner (Nov. 24), West Virginia (Nov. 28), Hofstra (Dec. 8), Washington State (Dec. 17), Drake (Dec. 19) and Virginia Commonwealth (Dec. 30).

"I'm excited about our schedule," said Baggett. "I think we're playing a very competitive schedule. I think our non-conference schedule will certainly help us to be prepared for when it comes time for MAAC Tournament play."

The Washington State and Drake contests are part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at Orleans Arena, where the Broncs were crowned Las Vegas Invitational Upper Division Champions last November. When the tournament shifts to Las Vegas, the Broncs will open with Northern Colorado (Dec. 22) before facing either Cal State Northridge or Southern Illinois University Edwardsville the next day.

"I think winning the Penn State game last year will give us the confidence again this year to understand that we can compete at a high level, compete against a Big 10 team or teams in the upper conference leagues," said Baggett. "Obviously, we've had some success and we want to continue to do the same this year against the likes of a West Virginia, Central Florida, Washington State – we want to compete. We're just not going to out there to say that we're playing these teams and they're on our schedule. We're going out there with the mindset to think and believe that we can win some of these games."


University of Central Florida (UCF)
Tuesday, Nov. 6 * Orlando, FL

Series History: UCF leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: UCF, 73-66 (Dec. 17, 1986; Orlando, FL)
2017-18 Record: 19-13 (9-9 AAC)
2017-18 Postseason: AAC Quarterfinals
Top Returners:   B.J. Taylor (15.9 ppg., 38.8 3ptFG%)
                              Tacko Fall (11.3 ppg., 7.3 rpg., 7-foot-6 center)
Notable Loss:     A.J. Davis (12.2 ppg., 7.6 rpg., Honorable Mention All-AAC)
Quickly: The Golden Knights nearly won 20 games despite battling through 16-game injury absences to Taylor (injured in first game) and Fall (missed last 16 games) in 2017-18.


Coppin State University
Monday, Nov. 19 * Alumni Gym **HOME OPENER**

Series History: Rider leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Rider, 66-47 (Dec. 21, 2002; Alumni Gym)
2017-18 Record: 5-27 (5-11 MEAC)
2017-18 Postseason: MEAC Tournament First Round
Top Returners:   Lamar Morgan (12.3 ppg., 5.1 rpg., All-MEAC 3^rd Team)
                              Dejuan Clayton (10.2 ppg. in 6 games)
Notable Loss:     Karonn Davis (11.7 ppg., 4.6 apg., 3.9 rpg., transfer from Niagara)
Quickly: Former Maryland National Champion Juan Dixon begins his second year as Eagles' Head Coach.


Wagner College
Saturday, Nov. 24 * Staten Island, NY

Series History: Rider leads, 19-5
Last Meeting: Rider, 90-84 (OT) (Dec. 16, 2017; Alumni Gym)
2017-18 Record: 23-10 (14-4 NEC)
2017-18 Postseason: NEC Championship Game, NIT First Round
Top Returner:     Romone Saunders (14.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.)
Notable Losses: Blake Francis (17.3 ppg., All-NEC 2^nd Team, transfer to Richmond)
                              JoJo Cooper (14.3 ppg., 6.1 apg., 5.2 rpg., All-NEC 1^st Team)
Quickly: The Broncs and Seahawks will meet for the sixth-straight year. The Broncs have won four of the five meetings and seven of the last eight. Wagner won the NEC Regular Season Championship and faced Baylor in the NIT last season.


West Virginia University
Wed., Nov. 28 * Morgantown, WV

Series History: WVU leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: WVU, 86-66 (Nov. 25, 1978; Morgantown, WV)
2017-18 Record: 26-11 (11-7 Big 12)
2017-18 Postseason: NCAA Sweet 16 (Loss to National Champion Villanova)
Top Returners:   Sagaba Konate (10.8 ppg., 7.6 rpg., 3.2 bpg., All-Big 12 3rd Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team)
                              Esa Ahmad (10.2 ppg., 5.5 rpg.)
Notable Losses: Jevon Carter (17.3 ppg., 6.6 apg., Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big 12 1^st Team, 32^nd overall pick in NBA Draft to Memphis Grizzlies)
                              Daxter Miles, Jr. (12.9 ppg.)
Quickly: The Mountaineers lose plenty in Carter and Miles, but have a strong returning cast from last year's Sweet 16 squad with Konate, Ahmad, Lamont West (9.4 ppg.) and James Bolden (8.7 ppg.) all back.  


Hofstra University
Sat., Dec. 8 * Hempstead, NY

Series History: Hofstra leads, 20-18
Last Meeting: Hofstra, 88-82 (Dec. 9, 2017; Alumni Gym)
2017-18 Record: 19-12 (12-6 CAA)
2017-18 Postseason: CAA Quarterfinals
Top Returners:   Justin Wright-Foreman (24.4 ppg., CAA Player of the Year)
                              Eli Pemberton (15.9 ppg., 40.9 3ptFG%)
Notable Loss:     Rokas Gustys (10.5 ppg., 12.0 rpg., 64.1 FG%, All-CAA 3^rd Team)
Quickly: Wright-Foreman tested the NBA waters following a breakout junior season, but decided to return as a senior. Rider and Hofstra played for the first time since 1992-93 last season. The Pride is led by former Niagara Head Coach Joe Mihalich.


Norfolk State University
Wed., Dec. 12 * Alumni Gym

Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2017-18 Record: 14-19 (11-5 MEAC)
2017-18 Postseason: MEAC Quarterfinals
Top Returners:   Steven Whitley (12.2 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.7 apg.)
                              Alex Long (10.5 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 51.3 FG%)
Notable Loss:     Kyle Williams (9.6 ppg.)
Quickly: Rider has never met Norfolk State on the hardwood. The Spartans return three starters, including their top two scorers.


Robert Morris University
Sat., Dec. 15 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 9-4
Last Meeting: Robert Morris, 78-75 (Dec. 6, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA)
2017-18 Record: 16-17 (9-9 NEC)
2017-18 Postseason: NEC Semifinals
Top Returners:   Koby Thomas (12.0 ppg., 6.9 rpg., NEC Rookie of the Year)
                              Matty McConnell (10.8 ppg.)
Notable Loss:     Dachon Burke (17.6 ppg., All-NEC 2^nd Team, transferred to Nebraska)
Quickly: Rider will look to avenge a tough 78-75 loss in Pittsburgh last season. The Broncs played their lone game of the season without the services of Stevie Jordan, due to injury.


Washington State University
Mon., Dec. 17 * Pullman, WA * Las Vegas Classic

Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2017-18 Record: 12-19 (4-14 Pac-12)
2017-18 Postseason: Pac-12 Tournament First Round
Top Returners:   Robert Franks (17.4 ppg., 6.6 rpg., 47.6 FG%, 40.5 3ptFG%, All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention)
                              Viont'e Daniels (9.0 ppg., 45.5 FG%)
Notable Loss:     Malachi Flynn (15.8 ppg., transfer to San Diego State)
Quickly: Rider and Washington State will meet for the first time in the two programs' histories in an early-round game of the Las Vegas Classic.


Drake University
Wed., Dec. 19 * Des Moines, IA * Las Vegas Classic

Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2017-18 Record: 17-17 (10-8 MVC)
2017-18 Postseason: MVC Quarterfinals, CIT Second Round
Top Returner:     Nick McGlynn (11.8 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 1.6 bpg., 52.3 FG%)
Notable Losses: Reed Timmer (19.2 ppg., 41.3 3ptFG%, All-MVC 1^st Team)
                              De'Antae McMurray (10.0 ppg., 4.1 rpg.)
Quickly: Drake has seen a near complete overhaul of its roster under first-year Head Coach Darian DeVries, a longtime Creighton assistant. The Bulldogs return just 20.9 percent of their scoring from a year ago, primarily in the form of McGlynn. DeVries has brought in a host of transfers, including grad transfers Brady Ellingson (Iowa) and Nick Norton (UAB), Florida junior college transfers Anthony Murphy, Tremell Murphy and D.J. Wilkins and Siena transfer Roman Penn.


Northern Colorado
Sat., Dec. 22 * Las Vegas, NV (Orleans Arena) * Las Vegas Classic

Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2017-18 Record: 26-12
2017-18 Postseason: CIT Champions, Big Sky Semifinals
Top Returners:   Jordan Davis (16.3 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 51.5 FG%, All-Big Sky 3^rd Team)
                              Jalen Sanders (9.5 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 58.2 FG%)
Notable Losses: Andre Spight (22.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 3.7 apg., All-Big Sky 1^st Team)
                              Anthony Johnson (9.6 ppg.)
                              Tanner Morgan (6.2 ppg., 5.8 rpg., started all 38 games)
Quickly: Northern Colorado is fresh off a CIT Championship, but must replace two starters (Spight, Morgan) and another key rotational player (Johnson).


*POTENTIAL OPPONENT*
Cal State Northridge
Sun., Dec. 23 * Las Vegas, NV (Orleans Arena) * Las Vegas Classic

Series History: Rider, 2-0
Last Meeting: Rider, 85-72 (Nov. 29, 2008; Alumni Gym)
2017-18 Record: 6-24 (3-13 Big West)
2017-18 Postseason: N/A
Top Returner:     Terrell Gomez (11.7 ppg., 3.6 apg., Big West Freshman of the Year)
Notable Losses: Tavrion Dawson (16.7 ppg., 6.6 rpg., All-Big West 2^nd Team)
                              Michael Warren (12.1 ppg., 6.1 rpg.)
Quickly: Former N.C. State Head Coach Mark Gottfried begins his first year leading the Matadors. The potential meeting would come almost two years to the day after the Broncs visited Gottfried's Wolfpack in Raleigh (Dec. 28, 2016).


*POTENTIAL OPPONENT*  
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Sun., Dec. 23 * Las Vegas, NV (Orleans Arena) * Las Vegas Classic

Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2017-18 Record: 9-21 (5-13 Ohio Valley)
2017-18 Postseason: OVC Tournament First Round
Top Returners:   Daniel Kinchen (11.4 ppg.)
                              Christian Ellis (8.9 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3.4 apg.)
                              David McFarland (8.5 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)
Notable Loss:     Jalen Henry (16.2 ppg., 7.3 rpg., All-OVC 2^nd Team)
Quickly: In 10 seasons at Division I, SIUE has never played a MAAC school in men's basketball.


Virginia Commonwealth University
Sun., Dec. 30 * Richmond, VA

Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2017-18 Record: 18-15 (9-9 Atlantic 10)
2017-18 Postseason: Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals
Top Returners:   De'Riante Jenkins (12.9 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 41.8 3ptFG%)
                              Isaac Vann (9.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg.)
Notable Losses: Justin Tillman (18.9 ppg., 9.9 rpg., 55.7 FG%, All-Atlantic 10 1^st Team, All-Atlantic 10 Defensive Team)
                              Jonathan Williams (9.3 ppg., 5.7 apg.)
Quickly: Graduate transfer Michael Gilmore returns to VCU after spending his first two seasons with the Rams. He transferred to Miami, but never played in a game before moving on to Florida Gulf Coast, where he played one season.