LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Senior Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Martin Luther King/Putnam Science) scored a game-high 20 points and added eight rebounds, while fellow senior Stevie Jordan (Bensalem, PA/Conwell-Egan/API) added eight points and game highs in rebounds (10) and assists (seven) as the Rider University men's basketball team defeated Manhattan, 71-59, on Senior Night Wednesday at Alumni Gym. With the win, the Broncs (18-12, 12-8 MAAC) clinched a first-round bye in next week's MAAC Championships, while the Jaspers fall to 12-16 (8-11 MAAC).

Rider never trailed in the game, building an early 14-4 lead on the strength of an 8-0 run and eight points from Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School). The lead swelled to 11 on a Kimar Williams (Philadelphia, PA/Constitution [Florida International]) free throw at the six-minute mark before the Jaspers scored 16 of the final 22 points in the half to pull to within one.

But Rider scored first in the second half, went on an 8-0 run including a pair of Frederick Scott (Munster, IN/Simeon [DePaul]) three-pointers to take a double-digit lead, and continued to build the lead to as many as 23 on Marshall's fast-break lay-up at the 7:01 mark. Still a 21-point Rider cushion, Manhattan scored the game's final nine points in the final three minutes to account for the final 71-59 margin.

Quotes & Notes
"I'm just happy for our seniors to go out on a winning note, to send them out on a winning note. These guys meant a lot to us the past four years, watching these guys grow, on and off the court. It's been fun. It's been blessing to have these two guys (Jordan and Marshall). We're going to miss them." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Prior to the game, Rider honored its senior class of Jordan, Marshall, Williams and Willy Nuñez, Jr. (Orlando, FL/Oak Ridge [Florida International]) during Senior Night ceremonies.
- Rider finishes the season 11-1 at home. During the seniors' four-year run, the Broncs were 39-10 at home, including a 32-5 mark over the past three seasons.
- Rider leads the all-time series with Manhattan, 32-24, including a regular-season sweep this year.
- The season sweep is Rider's third of the year, following its sweeps of Marist and Fairfield. The only team to sweep the Broncs this season was Iona. Rider split with the remaining six teams in the league.
- Rider has clinched a MAAC Championship First Round bye and will open play in Thursday night's quarterfinals at either 7 or 9:30 p.m. Should Rider take the No. 3 seed, the Broncs would play the winner between the Nos. 6 and 11 seeds at 7 p.m. The No. 4 seed will play the No. 5 seed at 9:30 p.m.
- With Wednesday's results around the MAAC, Rider remains in fourth place at 12-8 in the league. Siena (14-5) continues to hold first place ahead of Saint Peter's (13-6). Monmouth (12-7) needs a win at home Friday against Siena in order to take the third seed over the Broncs and potentially push the Saints to the No. 2 seed, should Saint Peter's defeat Iona. A Siena win would give Rider the third seed and the Saints the top seed.
- The Broncs' quarterfinal opponent will be one of - Quinnipiac (10-10), Niagara (9-10), Iona (9-10), Manhattan (8-11) or, in the event of a first-round upset, 11^th-seeded Marist (6-14).
- Friday's MAAC Schedule:

• Siena at Monmouth
• Iona at Saint Peter's
• Niagara at Canisius
• Fairfield at Manhattan
• Rider, Marist and Quinnipiac have all completed regular-season play.

- In Friday's final regular-season games, should:

• Iona and Niagara win -and- Monmouth lose - #3 Rider would play the first round winner between #6 Quinnipiac and #11 Marist at 7 p.m.
• Iona win -and- Niagara and Monmouth lose - #3 Rider would play the first round winner between #6 Quinnipiac and #11 Marist at 7 p.m.
• Manhattan win -and- Iona, Niagara and Monmouth lose - #3 Rider would play the first round winner between #6 Manhattan and #11 Marist at 7 p.m.  
• Iona, Niagara, Monmouth and Manhattan all lose - #3 Rider would play the first round winner between #6 Niagara and #11 Marist at 7 p.m.
• Iona and Monmouth win -and- Niagara lose – #4 Rider would play #5 Iona at 9:30 p.m.
• Iona, Niagara and Monmouth all win - #4 Rider would play #5 Niagara at 9:30 p.m.
• Niagara and Monmouth win -and- Iona lose - #4 Rider would play #5 Niagara at 9:30 p.m.

- With Canisius beating Marist, the Griffs secured the #10 seed, while the Red Foxes are locked into the #11 seed.
- Tonight's game was Rider's first on a day other than Friday or Sunday since a Tuesday, Jan. 7 contest at Quinnipiac.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Jordan's seven assists pushed his career total to 597, one shy of tying Deon Hames for the program record of 598. Jordan tied Ryan Thompson for the program steals record (188) last time out and remains at 188 following tonight's game.
- Jordan's 10 rebounds marked the second double-digit carom performance of his career. He first grabbed double-digit boards three years ago to the day when he had a career-high 12 rebounds on March 4, 2017, against Iona.
- Marshall did his damage on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. He also finished with eight rebounds.
- Vaughn (18) and Scott (13) also finished in double figures. Vaughn added eight rebounds and four steals.
- Rider outshot Manhattan, 49.0 percent (24-49) to 33.9 percent (20-59) from the floor, including a 37.5 percent (6-16) to 36.8 percent (7-19) edge from long range.
- The Broncs doubled up the Jaspers in the paint, 32-16.
- Rider outrebounded Manhattan, 41-35, marking the 22^nd time in 30 games that the Broncs have outrebounded their opposition.