BUFFALO, NY – Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) had 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell in a heartbreaker at Canisius, 70-69, on Armon Harried's contested 15-foot runner with 2.2 seconds remaining Friday night at Koessler Athletic Center. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 5-12 (1-6 MAAC), while the Griffs are now 6-12 (2-5 MAAC).

The Broncs scored the game's first six points to establish an early lead and pushed the advantage to eight, 21-13, on a three-point play from Murray, followed by a right-wing triple from the senior guard just past the midway point of the first half. Canisius responded with a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the game on Akrum Ahemed's lay-up at the 5:13 mark. The lead would swell to five, where it'd stay at the half. Murray led Rider with eight points and four rebounds at the break.

Rider opened the second half on an 11-1 run to rebuild a lead, 40-35. Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Monsignor Bonner) scored four points in the run, but also picked up his third and fourth fouls in the stretch. Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) and Nehemiah Benson (Streetsboro, OH/Lutheran East) also picked up with fourth fouls at the 12:44 mark and James fouled out with just under 10 minutes to play. But Murray continued to carry the Broncs, scoring 17 of his 27 points after the midway point of the second half, including a three with 1:48 left to turn a one-point deficit into a two-point lead and a pair of free throws with 1:08 left to make it a four-point Rider cushion.

After Jordan Henderson knocked with a right-wing three with 55 seconds remaining to cut the Broncs' lead to one, Murray's long straightaway jumper wouldn't fall and, after the fight for the rebound went out of bounds, Canisius was granted possession with 21 seconds left. The Griffs milked most of the clock before Harried hoisted a well-guarded, one-handed runner from the right elbow that fell with 2.2 seconds remaining. After timeouts from both teams, Benson's halfcourt heave at the buzzer wouldn't fall.  

Quotes & Notes
"We're just in one of those ruts where we can't get out of our own way right now. Our guys really battle. We don't always play smart, but the guys battle. They were locked in from yesterday to today. It's just unfortunate we didn't get the win." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Canisius, 38-16. However, the recent series has been much closer, with Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams posting a 9-9 record against the Griffs over the last nine seasons.  
- Murray returned from a one-game absence due to injury.
- The Broncs wrap up their three-game road trip Sunday, when they travel to Niagara. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN3.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Murray made 9-of-19 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-6 from long range. He also knocked down 6-of-7 free-throw attempts.
- Murray posted his fourth double-double of the year, matching Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School [Ole Miss]) for the team lead.
- Ogemuno-Johnson finished with 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
- Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) added eight points and five assists. He knocked down 2-of-4 three-point attempts.
- James fouled out for the eighth time in 17 games played. Rider was +17 in his 15 minutes and 45 seconds played.
- Rider also got positive contributions from Vaughn (+5 in 35:03), Ogemuno-Johnson (+4 in 20:41) and Murray (+2 in 38:30).
- Both teams took care of the ball, with the Griffs turning it over just eight times to the Broncs' nine miscues.
- Rider owned a 36-16 advantage in points in the paint, an 11-2 edge in second-chance points and a 9-2 advantage in fast-break points.
- Canisius took a 10-4 edge in points off turnovers and its bench outscored that of Rider, 18-7.
- Rider led for 22:39 of game time to the Griffs' 10:39. The game featured 15 lead changes and 10 ties.
- Canisius outshot Rider, 43.4 percent (23-53) to 41.8 percent (28-67), from the floor and took a 36.0 percent (9-25) to 35.7 percent (5-14) edge from long range.
- Rider (61.5 percent, 8-13) shot a slightly-better percentage from the free-throw line than Canisius (60.0 percent, 15-25), but was awarded 12 fewer attempts at the line than the Griffs.
- The Broncs outrebounded Canisius, 41-37, including an 11-6 edge on the offensive glass.
- Rider matched its season high with 18 assists (Jan. 9 at Marist).