DUBLIN, IRELAND – Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) matched his career high with 30 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell to Central Arkansas, 90-85, to close out MAAC/ASUN Dublin Basketball Classic play Saturday morning. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 1-3, while the Bears are now 3-2.

Central Arkansas jumped out to an early eight-point lead, 14-6, before the Broncs scored 12 of the next 16 points, including an 6-0 run to cap the span, evening the score at 18-18 with just over 12 minutes left in the first half. The Bears would rebuild a lead of as many as 10 points. Rider responded with a 9-0 run to close to within one, with buckets by Murray, Tariq Ingraham (Philadelphia, PA/Bonner-Prendergast [Wake Forest]), Adetokunbo Bakare (Newark, NJ/St. Benedict's [Indian Hills C.C./NJIT]) and Anthony McCall (Philadelphia, PA/Academy of the New Church). Central Arkansas held onto a 41-39 lead at the half.

A quick 8-0 run near the start of the second half gave Rider its largest lead, 49-43, with 16:53 left. Murray capped the run with a jumper and a three-pointer. Following a Central Arkansas timeout, the Bears scored six-straight to tie the game. Seven lead changes and three ties followed, with the Bears taking the lead for good on a Collin Cooper three-pointer with 5:28 remaining. The Bears' lead swelled to seven and the Broncs got back to within three on a Nehemiah Benson (Streetsboro, OH/Lutheran East) putback with 4.5 seconds left. But the Bears made a pair of free throws to account for the final 90-85 margin.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We struggled again defensively. Too many turnovers. No continuity, no flow. We just didn't play well today."

"DJ's been great. We've got to get the other 12 or 13 guys around him playing better. DJ's been great. He played great all weekend. He's playing with a lot of passion and love for the game. I've got to get the other guys to do the same." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider and Central Arkansas met for the first time in the two programs' histories.
- Rider played without starting center Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Bonner-Prendergast), who did not travel to Ireland due to visa issues. His high school teammate, Ingraham, made the start in his place.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Murray scored 17 or more points for the fourth-straight game to open the season. His 30 points matched his career-best performance last Nov. 17 at Bucknell. This morning, he made 10-of-17 attempts from the floor, including 1-of-5 from long range, and made all nine of his free-throw attempts.
- Murray also added five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 38 minutes.
- Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) also finished in double figures with 13 points. He made 4-of-8 attempts from the floor, including his only three-point attempt, and went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
- Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) scored eight points, but struggled from the floor, making 2-of-13 attempts, including 1-of-7 from long range.
- Tyrel Bladen (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) added seven points and five rebounds, making 3-of-4 attempts from the floor. He missed a field goal attempt for the first time this season on his first shot of the game after making his first eight. He's now 11-of-12 on the year.
- Bakare scored seven points on 2-of-3 from long range and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line in nine minutes off the bench.
- Ingraham had six points and a team-high six rebounds, while Benson added six points and four rebounds.
- Central Arkansas outshot Rider, 52.8 percent (28-53) to 48.3 percent (29-60) from the floor, including a 44.0 percent (11-25) to 27.8 (5-18) advantage from long range.
- The Broncs took an 88.0 percent (22-25) to 71.9 percent (23-32) edge from the free-throw line.
- Rider outrebounded Central Arkansas, 34-26.
- Rider took a 42-28 edge in points in the paint and a 28-16 advantage in bench scoring.
- The Broncs turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 19 times. Rider had turned the ball over just 24 times total in the prior three games.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday, when they face intrastate foe Rutgers. Tip-off from Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network.