LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) posted a near-triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) also scored 16 points as the Rider University men's basketball team defeated Canisius, 70-62, Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gym. With the win, the Broncs improve to 7-13 (3-7 MAAC), while the Griffs slip to 7-14 (3-7 MAAC).

The teams exchanged early runs with the Broncs taking a 13-4 lead with a 9-0 spurt before Canisius answered with eight straight to close to within one. Later, a 12-2 Canisius run would push the Griffs in front, 24-19, at the nine-minute mark, before Rider answered with a 17-3 spurt to build a nine-point lead, 36-27, with 2:24 left. Nehemiah Benson (Streetsboro, OH/Lutheran East) got the run started with a three-pointer and scored five points in the stretch, while Murray led the way with seven points in the spurt. Canisius cut the lead to five before Murray beat the halftime buzzer with a pull-up jumper to give Rider a 39-32 lead at the break. The Broncs shot 50.0 percent (15-30) in the first half, while holding Canisius to 32.0 percent (8-25).

The Griffs used a 9-0 run early in the second half to pull to within two. But consecutive Murray and Powell three-pointers created separation and the Broncs would continue to build the lead to as many as 14 points on Powell's drive with 2:40 remaining. Canisius would score the final six points of the game, but the end result was never in jeopardy.  

Quotes & Notes
"It's good to be on the winning side today. That's for daggone sure. We can smile for 24 hours and enjoy it. We learned from the other night. We talk about details, things that matter. This team's not far off." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

"If I keep leading like I did today, being on the side with Coach, talking to him the whole time, we can do this everyday. Our defense was way better, keeping them off the baseline. We did little things that matter and I made sure they heard it every time we were on defense. We executed way better this time." – Rider senior guard Dwight Murray, Jr.
 
- Rider now leads the all-time series with Canisius, 39-16. However, the recent series has been much closer, with Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams posting a 10-9 record against the Griffs over the last 10 seasons. Seven of those meetings were decided by two points or less, including six by a single point. In those meetings, Rider is 4-3. 11 of the meetings were decided by six points or less, with the Broncs leading the series in those instances, 6-5.
- The last three meetings between Rider and Canisius had been decided by a combined four points.
- Rider led at the half for the first time since Jan. 14 against Quinnipiac, a span of five games between leads after 20 minutes.
- The Broncs return to the road Friday, when they travel to Siena. Tip-off from MVP Arena (the former Times-Union Center) in Albany is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Murray made 7-of-14 attempts from the floor, including 2-of-5 from long range. His near-triple-double performance was his sixth game with a double-double and at least six in the next category in 42 games as a Bronc, including both games this season against Canisius.
- Murray's double-double tied him with Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School [Ole Miss]) for the team lead with five on the season.  
- Powell made 6-of-9 attempts from the floor, including 2-of-4 from long range. He also made both of his free-throw attempts and added two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Monsignor Bonner) matched his season-high with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
- Vaughn contributed eight points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists.
- Rider outshot Canisius, 51.9 percent (27-52) to 34.4 percent (21-61) from the floor, including a 42.9 percent (6-14) to 32.0 percent (8-25) edge from beyond the arc. The Broncs also edged the Griffs from the free-throw line, 58.8 percent (10-17) to 52.2 percent (12-23).
- Rider narrowly outrebounded the Griffs, 38-37.
- Though Rider committed 16 turnovers to Canisius' 14, the Broncs took a 17-7 edge in points off turnovers.
- Rider led for 34:48 of game play to the Griffs' 3:49.
- The lead changed hands five times and the game featured three ties.