NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara's Marcus Hammond hit a long two from the right wing as time expired as the Rider University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker on the road, 70-68, Friday night at the "Taps" Gallagher Center. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 9-7 (3-3 MAAC), while Niagara improves to 5-11 (3-2 MAAC).

Rider gradually built a lead of seven points in the first half, thanks in large part to hot shooting from the perimeter, including 3-of-4 from Willy Nuñez, Jr. (Orlando, FL/Oak Ridge [Florida International]) and 2-of-3 from Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School). The Broncs took a four-point cushion, 32-28, into the halftime break following a Niagara three at the buzzer.

A 10-0 run early in the second half, including the first seven from Hammond, gave Niagara a seven-point lead. Still trailing by six with 5:40 remaining, Rider scored 11 of the next 13 points, including consecutive Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King/Putnam Science) buckets inside to give the Broncs a three-point lead, 66-63, with 2:25 left.

The Rider lead remained three when the Broncs trapped the Purple Eagles and Niagara called its final timeout with 34 seconds remaining and 12 on the shot clock. Out of the timeout, the Purple Eagles tied the game on a Justin Roberts three-pointer with 27 seconds remaining. On the other end, Stevie Jordan's (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API) driving attempt with seven seconds wouldn't fall and Niagara sprinted the other way. The Broncs were whistled for their sixth foul of the half with 1.2 seconds left. Niagara inbounded to Hammond on the right wing and his turnaround jumper with a foot on the three-point line fell to give the Purple Eagles the victory.

Notes
- Rider leads the all-time series with Niagara, 26-23. The Niagara win snapped a three-game Rider winning streak.     
- The Broncs complete the league's Western New York road trip on Sunday at Niagara. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+ at the Koessler Athletic Center.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Vaughn scored 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-4 from long range. He also added four assists.
- Jordan added 15 points and four assists. He hit 4-of-7 attempts, including 2-of-3 from long range and made 5-of-7 free throws.
- Marshall and Nuñez, Jr. each scored 12 points. Marshall made 6-of-12 attempts, while Nuñez, Jr. made 4-of-8 from long range.
- Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]) chipped in with eight points to go along with a team-best eight rebounds and five assists.
- Rider edged Niagara, 48.2 percent (27-56) to 48.1 percent (26-54) from the floor, while the Purple Eagles took a 48.0 percent (12-25) to 42.1 percent (8-19) advantage from long range.
- The Broncs outrebounded Niagara, 34-23, marking the 13^th time in 16 games that Rider has outrebounded its opponent.
- Rider had a season-high 21 assists to just 11 turnovers.
- The Broncs took a 34-16 edge in points in the paint.