LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Willy Nuñez, Jr. (Orlando, FL/Oak Ridge [Florida International]) knocked down three free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining in regulation to push the Rider University men's basketball team past Canisius, 61-60, Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium. With the win, the Broncs improve to 13-9 (7-5 MAAC), while the Golden Griffins fall to 9-14 (4-8 MAAC).

Rider used an early 9-0 run to build a seven-point lead in the first half, before Canisius gradually chipped away until it took a 26-25 lead on a pair of Armon Harried free throws at the 6:10 mark. Although Rider twice took one-point leads on consecutive Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) three-pointers late, Canisius scored the final four points of the period to take a three-point advantage into halftime.

The Broncs scored nine of the first 11 points to begin the second half, including five from Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]) to build a four-point lead. Canisius answered with a 7-0 run to retake the lead and added another six-point spurt to build make it a seven-point Golden Griffins advantage with 4:15 remaining.

But Rider quickly cut the deficit to one on consecutive three-pointers from Nuñez, Jr. and Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School) and tied the game at the 2:18 mark on a three from Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API). With the shot clock running down, Canisius found Corey Brown inside for two with just under a minute remaining for what proved to be the game's final field goal.
 
Following misfires from both teams, Nuñez, Jr. lined up a three-pointer with 5.9 seconds remaining, but was fouled in the attempt. He calmly made the first two free throws, before Canisius called timeout in an attempt to ice him. The graduate student again calmly sank another free throw to put Rider on top, 61-60. Canisius didn't get a shot on the other end, with a pass over halfcourt being taken away by Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King/Putnam Science), who dribbled out the final seconds.  

Quotes & Notes
"Fortunate to have a chance to win the game. Willy hit some big free throws in the end. We missed a ton of lay-ups and free throws. But a win is a win is a win. I'm certainly not going to complain about that." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

(On the game-winning free throws) "My mind was pretty clear. In practice, we work on situational stuff and being poised. I looked at Coach and he nodded his head at me like, 'knock 'em down.' And the rest is history." – Graduate student guard Willy Nuñez, Jr.

- Rider leads the all-time series with Canisius, 36-16. Canisius had won the last two.
- With Friday's results around the MAAC, Rider finds itself in a three-way tie for second place at 7-5 with Siena and Saint Peter's, a game back in the loss column to first-placed Monmouth (7-4). Quinnipiac and Manhattan (6-5) are both a game back of second place in the win column.  
- Rider is now 7-1 at home this season, including a 5-1 mark in league contests.
- Winning at home has been the norm in the MAAC this season, with the top eight teams in the league standings now posting a 37-8 mark (.822 winning percentage) at home in conference play.
- The Broncs return to action Sunday, when they play host to Niagara. Opening tip from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 2 p.m.  
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- On a night in which Rider had made just three of its first 15 free-throw attempts, Nuñez, Jr. made each of his three attempts on the night to win the game.
- Vaughn led Rider with a game-high 18 points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds, three steals and a block. He made 8-of-17 attempts to lead Rider in scoring for the third-straight game.
- Marshall and Jordan each added nine points. Jordan grabbed seven rebounds, while Marshall collected five caroms.
- Canisius outshot Rider, 44.2 percent (23-52) to 42.9 percent (24-56) from the floor, while the Broncs took a 36.8 percent (7-19) to 19.2 percent (5-26) from long range.
- The Griffs edged Rider on the glass, 35-34. Rider has outrebounded the opposition in 16-of-22 games this season.
- Rider has a winning record (7-6) when trailing at the half this season.