HAMDEN, CT – Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) led the Rider University men's basketball team with 16 points, but Quinnipiac pulled away late to defeat the Broncs, 80-64, Saturday afternoon at People's United Bank Center. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 4-12 (4-9 MAAC), while the Bobcats improve to 7-9 (5-7 MAAC).

Quinnipiac used an early 9-0 run to create separation in the first half, before Rider used a 9-0 run of its own to tie the game at 21-21 with just under eight minutes remaining in the period. The score remained tight for the remainder of the first half, with Quinnipiac scoring the final two free throws of the half to take a 36-34 lead into the halftime break. Murray led the Broncs with nine first-half points, while Rodney Henderson, Jr. (Carson, CA/Avon Old Farms [CSUN]) and Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Monsignor Bonner) added seven points apiece.

Rider absorbed the Bobcats' initial punch in the second half. Quinnipiac scored the half's first five points to extend to a seven-point lead, before Rider scored 17 of the next 23 points to take a 51-47 lead. Christian Ings (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) converted a traditional three-point play to punctuate the run at the 13:23 mark. The Bobcats scored the next four points to tie the game and, after exchanging buckets to make it 53-53, Quinnipiac used an 11-0 run to take the lead for good.  

Quotes & Notes
"It comes down to toughness and making plays. Being tough and making plays. We didn't do that."

"All I know if you have to compete. That's what basketball is about. We don't make excuses. We didn't finish the game the right way." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Quinnipiac, 13-5. The Bobcats have now won the last three in Hamden.
- The Broncs played for the first time since Jan. 23 following an idle weekend and a two-week COVID-19 related pause.    
- Rider was without starting forward and second-leading scorer Dontrell McQuarter (Baton Rouge, LA/Believe Prep [Hinds C.C.]) for the third-straight game.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Murray made 6-of-17 attempts from the floor, including 1-of-3 from long range. He also made 3-of-4 free-throw attempts. He also added three steals.
- Murray missed his third free-throw attempt of the game, snapping a stretch of 25-consecutive made free-throw attempts, dating back to Dec. 19.  
- Ings, Ogemuno-Johnson and Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) joined Murray in double-figures with 12, 10 and 10 points, respectively.
- Ogemuno-Johnson narrowly missed a double-double, adding nine rebounds.
- Ings made 5-of-11 attempts, while also adding seven rebounds and four assists.
- Powell also contributed five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
- For the game, the Bobcats outshot the Broncs, 47.4 percent (27-57) to 41.0 percent (35-61) from the floor, 32.3 percent (10-31) to 31.3 percent (5-16) from long range and 80.0 percent (16-20) to 60.0 percent (9-15) from the free-throw line.
- Both teams grabbed 34 rebounds.
- Quinnipiac's bench outscored that of Rider, 26-9.
- Rider took a 21-14 edge in fast-break points.