GAMES 10/11 – Friday/Saturday, January 8/9, 2021
Rider Broncs (2-7, 2-4 MAAC) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (4-4, 3-3 MAAC)
Location: Niagara University, NY – Gallagher Center
Tip: 4 p.m.
Live Video – ESPN+ (Friday) | ESPN3 (Saturday)
Live Audio – 107.7 The Bronc
Live Stats – PurpleEagles.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/RiderMBB
 
What You Need To Know
- Rider continues league play this weekend, when it travels to Niagara.
- The Broncs are coming off a weekend split at Fairfield.
- Dwight Murray, Jr. has been an all-around bright spot so far this season, averaging 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game, including a near triple-double of 20 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and seven assists in a win at Manhattan on Dec. 11.
- Rider leads the all-time series with Niagara, 27-23, including wins in four of the last five. The two teams split last season, with Niagara winning in Western New York on a buzzer beater, before Rider won convincingly in Lawrenceville. They were set to meet in the MAAC Quarterfinals before the tournament was halted.
- Niagara is an even 4-4 (3-3 MAAC), having been swept at Saint Peter's, having swept Fairfield and splitting at Marist. Reigning MAAC Player of the Week Marcus Hammond leads the Purple Eagles at 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. Kobi Nwandu also averages in double figures at 12.1 ppg. to go along with a team-leading 3.1 assists per game. Justin Roberts has also contributed 9.1 points per game.
- Dontrell McQuarter erupted for 20 points and eight rebounds on Dec. 19 against Iona. He made 7-of-13 field-goal attempts.
- Jordan Smalls scored 9 points in 10 minutes in his collegiate debut vs. NJIT.
- Rider returned just four letterwinners from last year's team that finished 18-12 and was the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament before it was cancelled.
- The Broncs are tasked with replacing 87.6% of its scoring from a year ago, second most in the nation behind only Kentucky (94.0%).
- Ninth-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 143-123 record. Baggett won MAAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Only John Carpenter (292) and Thomas Leyden (187) have more wins at Rider than Baggett.- 107.7 The Bronc will broadcast the games live, with Tom Trimarco and Demara Barnes on the call. Fans can listen online at www.1077TheBronc.com on WRRC1, and on your mobile device, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Download our free WRRC1 app in the Google Play and Apple App stores. You can also ask Alexa to "Play 1077 The Bronc Retro" when you download the WRRC1 Alexa skill.