RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO – Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School [Ole Miss]) and Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) each had 13 points and seven rebounds, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell to Middle Tennessee State University, 60-54, Tuesday afternoon in opening round play of the Cancun Challenge. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 2-4, while the Blue Raiders are now 4-1.

The Blue Raiders built an early 13-2 lead over nearly the first six minutes of the game, but the Broncs responded with a 14-0 run to take their first lead of the game. The momentum continued as Rider would outscore MTSU, 31-11, after the initial Blue Raiders spurt. Vaughn led Rider with nine points, while Murray added six points. Corey McKeithan (Windsor, CT/Windsor) had five assists.

MTSU opened the second half on a 15-2 run to retake the lead. The Broncs came back to tie the game on consecutive Nehemiah Benson (Streetsboro, OH/Lutheran East) buckets, the second at the 8:46 mark to put Rider on top, 44-43. But MTSU responded with a 7-0 run and never trailed again.
 
Quotes & Notes
"I am trying to find 40 consistent minutes from start-to-finish."

"We had a chance to win this game and we should've won the game I think. For the most part, we played well minus Ajiri. We've just got to close games out, execute better when teams start to get after us a little bit toward the end of the game." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider and Middle Tennessee met for the first time in the two programs' histories.
- Rider is playing in the Cancun Challenge for the third time and the fourth time in Mexico.
- Rider has now led at the half in five of six games played.
- The Broncs played without starting center Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Monsignor Bonner) who couldn't make it to Mexico because of visa issues.
- A season-low eight Broncs saw action in the game, including the season debut for R.J. Weise (Allentown, NJ/Allentown).
- The Broncs return to action Wednesday in the Cancun Challenge Mayan Division Consolation Game against Bucknell, which fell to Mercer in Tuesday's second game.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Vaughn made 5-of-9 attempts from the floor, including 1-of-2 from long range and both of his free-throw attempts.
- Murray made 5-of-16 attempts, but was hampered by six of Rider's season-high 21 turnovers. The Broncs' previous season high was 13 turnovers.
- For the game, MTSU turned Rider's 21 turnovers into 25 points, while the Broncs scored 12 points off the Blue Raiders' 17 turnovers.
- MTSU also enjoyed a 19-12 advantage in second-chance points, the product of an 18-11 edge in offensive rebounds.
- Benson scored a career-high 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. He also added seven rebounds.
- McKeithan led Rider with five assists and two steals.
- For the game, Rider outshot Middle Tennessee, 38.2 percent (21-55) to 33.9 percent (21-62) from the floor, including a 30.8 percent (4-13) to 25.0 percent (7-28) edge from long range.
- Rider was awarded just two free-throw attempts in nearly the first 36 minutes of the game. McKeithan sank two at the 1:52 mark of the first. It wasn't until the 4:16 mark of the second that the Broncs returned to the line. During the time Rider attempted two free throws, Middle Tennessee was granted 15 attempts at the line.
- For the game, Rider made all eight of its attempts from the line, while Middle Tennessee hit 52.0 percent (11-21).  
- MTSU outrebounded Rider, 41-34, including an 18-11 edge on the offensive glass.