GAME 12 – Saturday, December 31, 2022
Rider Broncs (5-6, 2-0 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins (2-9, 0-2 MAAC)
Location: Niagara University, NY – Gallagher Center
Tip: 3 p.m.
Live Video – ESPN3
Live Stats – PurpleEagles.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/RiderMBB

What You Need To Know
- Rider returns to MAAC play following a tough 78-72 loss at Georgia Wednesday. The Broncs battled back from down 20 in the second half to cut the deficit to two with just over a minute remaining. Tariq Ingraham (15 points, 7 rebounds) and Mervin James (14 points, 8 rebounds) led the Broncs.
- Dwight Murray, Jr. had scored at least 17 points in each of the first 10 games this season prior to an eight-point performance at Georgia on Dec. 28. Included was 30 points against Central Arkansas, matching his career high. For the season, he's averaging 18.3 ppg., shooting 42.6 percent from deep. Murray's 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game are best on the team, while his 4.9 rebounds are third.
- Already a 1,000-point scorer for his collegiate career, spanning two years at Incarnate Word and the last three at Rider, Murray stands 17 shy of 1,000 at RU.
- Mervin James has contributed a pair of double-doubles in his last four games. He went for 23 points and 13 rebounds in a Dec. 7 win at Stonehill, before chipping in with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a Dec. 22 win over Marist.
The Broncs lead the all-time series with Canisius, 39-16. The two teams split last season and Kevin Baggett's teams are 10-9 over the last 10 years vs. Canisius.
- Canisius is led by Jordan Henderson at 13.5 points per game, while Tahj Staveskie (13.0 ppg.) and Jamir Moultrie (11.4 ppg.) also average in double figures. Jacco Fritz has also contributed 8.2 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game. Xzavier Long (6.4 ppg., 5.7 rpg.) and Bryce Okpoh (5.8 ppg., 5.5 rpg.) have also chipped in admirably.
- Rider returned four starters and 74 percent of its scoring from a year ago, including Preseason All-MAAC First Team selection Dwight Murray, Jr. and All-MAAC Third Team selections Mervin James and Allen Powell.
- The Broncs were picked third in the MAAC Preseason Poll.
- 11th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 166-158 record. Baggett won MAAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Only John Carpenter (292) and Thomas Leyden (187) have more wins at Rider.