LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Sophomore guard Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College H.S.) scored a career-high 18 points and the Broncs stormed back from down 17 in the second half, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell to Siena, 74-72, Saturday night at Alumni Gym. The Broncs had a shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, but Dwight Murray, Jr.'s (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) long jumper hit back iron as the Broncs fall to 3-10 (3-7 MAAC). Siena won its program-record 16^th-straight game dating back to last season and is now 6-0 (6-0 MAAC).  

Rider used an early 12-2 run to establish a 14-7 lead in the early going, including five points each from Murray and Powell and four more from Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Monsignor Bonner). Siena countered with an 8-0 run to take the lead back. Following three more lead changes, Siena went on a 12-2 run and maintained the lead for the remainder of the game. The Saints built the lead to as many as 15 in the first half, before the Broncs whittled it down to 12 at the break. Powell led the Broncs with 10 points at the half. The Saints shot 51.7 percent (15-29) in the period, including 63.6 percent (7-11) from long range.

Siena built its lead to as many as 17 points early in the second half, before the Broncs whittled away with runs of 11-0 and 11-2, drawing to within three on a Murray transition bucket with 4:11 to play. Siena's lead stood at six following a pair of Jordan King free throws with 33 seconds remaining before Ogemuno-Johnson scored on a putback, the Broncs forced a turnover and Powell knocked down a three-pointer with 6.5 seconds left to cut Siena's lead to one. The Saints made 1-of-2 at the free-throw line, before Murray pulled up at the buzzer with his toe on the top of the three-point arc, but the shot to tie it wouldn't fall.  

Quotes & Notes
"We fought our way back. We put ourselves in a hole when we got down 17, but the character of this team to stay together and have the final shot for a chance to win or tie the game speaks volumes about our guys not giving up." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Siena now leads the all-time series with the Broncs, 36-18.
- Reigning MAAC Player of the Year, Siena's Jalen Pickett, did not play due to injury for the third-straight game.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Powell did his damage on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-6 from long range. The seven conversions and four three-pointers are both new career highs for the sophomore guard.
- Murray finished with 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting and hit 2-of-3 three-point attempts. He also dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds.
- Ogemuno-Johnson and Jeremiah Pope (Clinton, NC/Clinton [Brunswick C.C.]) also added 12 points apiece. It was a career-high for Pope, while Ogemuno-Johnson also grabbed seven rebounds. He's now scored in double figures in four of his last five games and five times on the season.
- Dontrell McQuarter (Baton Rouge, LA/Believe Prep [Hinds C.C.]) contributed eight points, seven rebounds and a game-high three steals in 32 minutes played.
- Siena outshot the Broncs, 48.2 percent (27-56) to 43.1 percent (31-72) from the floor, including a 47.4 percent (9-19) to 38.1 percent (8-21) edge from long range.
- Rider got to the free-throw line for just three attempts, making two. Conversely, Siena enjoyed 17 attempts, making 11 (64.7 percent).
- Siena outrebounded Rider, 38-34. However, Rider took a 14-6 edge in second-chance points.