LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School) scored a game-high 27 points and Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API) added 23 points as the Rider University men's basketball team outran Siena, 85-77, Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gym. With the win, the Broncs snap a two-game losing skid and improve to 8-4 (2-0 MAAC). The loss snaps Siena's four-game winning streak, dropping the Saints to 6-6 (2-1 MAAC).

Both teams shot the ball well in the first half, with the Saints taking a 56.0 percent (14-25) to 52.0 percent (13-25) edge. Siena scored seven of the first nine points to take an early lead before the Broncs answered with 20 of the next 28 points, including nine from Vaughn, to take its largest lead of the half, 22-15 at the 10:17 mark. Siena responded with an 8-0 run, including consecutive Donald Carey three's, to retake the lead. The Saints gained six points of separation on Jalen Pickett's jumper with just under a minute to play in the half, before Jordan scored all five of his first-half points in the final 35 seconds to close the deficit to three, 40-37, at the break.

Rider immediately tied the game on its first possession of the second half with Jordan three, before taking the lead on a Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]) putback on its next possession. The lead changed hands six more times in the ensuing 90 seconds, with Jordan's lay-up at 17:09 giving Rider the lead for good.

The teams exchanged 8-0 runs that put Rider on top by nine before Siena whittled it back down to one. But the Broncs responded with the next 10 points, including consecutive Vaughn three-pointers to reestablish an 11-point cushion. Consecutive Jordan King three-pointers, the second with 1:35 remaining, cut Rider's lead to one, 72-71. But the Broncs held on for the win with strong defense and free-throw shooting.
    
Quotes & Notes
"These guys won the game. It wasn't about the coaching. It was about these guys hitting free throws, getting stops, being a team, doing the things that we needed when we had some adversity and (Frederick Scott) went in this little tidbit with their team. I thought that stumped our momentum a little bit. But our guys did a good job of regaining their composure and going back and finishing this game."

"Thank goodness for Dimencio being the player that he was two years and back to being one of the best players in the league. And he showed it again why he's one of the best players in the league." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Siena leads the all-time series with Rider, 33-18. Siena had won the last two meetings.
- Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett pulled into a tie with Kevin Bannon for third all-time at Rider with his 131^st victory at the school.    
- Scott and Siena's Gary Harris, Jr., were both issued flagrant two fouls after getting tangled up with 5:45 remaining in the second half. The fouls carried ejections.
- Rider resumes Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action on Tuesday, when it travels to Quinnipiac at 7 p.m.       
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Vaughn's 27 points were a season high and his most since scoring 28 on Feb. 10, 2018, at Marist.
- Vaughn made 7-of-12 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from long range, and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. He also had a team-high six rebounds and two blocks.
- Jordan made 6-of-12 attempts, including 3-of-6 from long range, to go along with 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. The 23 points match his season-high, established Dec. 16 against Marist.
- As a team, Rider made 28-of-33 free-throw attempts (84.8 percent).
- Rider outshot Siena, 50.0 percent (25-50) to 48.2 percent (27-56). It was the fourth time this season Rider has shot 50 percent or better.
- The Broncs took a 30-28 edge on the glass, marking the 10^th time in 12 games that Rider has outrebounded its opponent.
- Rider limited reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year and Preseason MAAC Player of the Year Jalen Pickett to 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-8 from long range.
- The Broncs outscored Siena, 20-8, in fast-break points.