HAMDEN, CT – Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) scored a season-high 24 points and added eight rebounds, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell at Quinnipiac, 73-67, Wednesday night at the Peoples United Center. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 5-11 (1-5 MAAC), while the Bobcats move to 10-6 (5-3 MAAC).

Rider led for much of the first 11 minutes, before Quinnipiac went on a 19-0 run to open up a 14-point lead, 33-19, at the 6:19 mark of the opening period. Rider answered with the next 11 points, including seven of James' 15 first-half points to cut the deficit to three, where it remained at the break. Ogemuno-Johnson added six points and five rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

The Broncs tied the game on an Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) three-pointer at the 16:06 mark of the second and later wrestled the lead away with a 12-0 run to go up, 60-52, with 6:44 remaining. James scored seven of the 12 points and Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Monsignor Donovan) punctuated it with a dunk off a press break. But Quinnipiac responded with the next 11 points as part of a 15-2 run and never trailed again.

Quotes & Notes
"They're fighting. They are fighting. I don't ever question that. We don't always play smart, but the guys are playing hard and fighting."

"We've got to learn from our mistakes and we're not doing that soon enough, so we're costing ourselves games. It's that simple. This team can win if they just play smart down the stretch. There's no one in this league that I don't think we can beat. I'm sorry. That's me as a coach believing in my team. We've got to learn how to finish down the stretch. We're midway through the year. We can't keep doing this." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- The Broncs hold a 13-8 lead over Quinnipiac in the all-time series. However, the Bobcats have won the last four meetings and the last five in Hamden. 
- Rider played without starting guard Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) due to injury.
- With Murray out, Jaelen McGlone (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham) made his first-career start.
- The Broncs continue a three-game road trip Friday, when they travel to Canisius. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.

Broncs by the Numbers
- James made 10-of-17 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-4 from long range. His eight rebounds were also a team high.
- Ogemuno-Johnson finished with 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting, while also adding six rebounds.
- Jeremiah Pope (Clinton, NC/Clinton [Brunswick C.C.]) also finished in double figures with 10 points in a season-high 28 minutes played.
- Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School [Ole Miss]) added eight points, five assists, four rebounds and two blocks.
- Despite playing without its assists leader, Rider finished with 17 assists, one off its season high (18, Jan. 9 at Marist).
- Powell, Pope and Corey McKeithan (Windsor, CT/Windsor) each added three assists.
- For the game, Quinnipiac outshot Rider, 46.0 percent (23-50) to 40.6 percent (28-69) from the floor.
- Both teams shot 33.3 percent from long range, with the Broncs converting 7-of-21 and the Bobcats hitting 9-of-27.
- Rider took an 80.0 percent to 72.0 percent edge from the free-throw line. However, the Bobcats (18-25) went to the line with far greater frequency than the Broncs (4-5).
- Quinnipiac edged Rider on the boards, 36-35.
- Rider was whistled for twice as many fouls as Quinnipiac (22-11).