NORTH EASTON, MA – Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) posted season-highs of 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists as the Rider University men's basketball team pulled away from Stonehill, 78-67, Wednesday night at Merkert Gymnasium. Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) added 20 points and five rebounds, while Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Bonner-Prendergast) scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, while also grabbing nine rebounds in the Broncs' third-straight win. Rider improved to 4-4 with the win, while Stonehill is now 4-7.

The Broncs led in the early going, scoring the game's first four points and continuing to lead by four, 14-10, after a Murray three-pointer at the 14:53 mark. But the Skyhawks went on a 13-0 run and built a lead of as many as 10 points on two occasions in the period. Rider scored the final five points of the period on a short jumper from Zahrion Blue (Princeton, NJ/Princeton [Lincoln]) and a Murray three-pointer to close to within four at 39-35 at the half. Murray led all scorers with 13 first-half points, while James had 11. Stonehill hoisted 23 first-half three-point attempts, making nine (39.1 percent).

Rider scored 12 of the first 15 points to begin the second half and take a 47-42 lead less than four minutes into the period. On three occasions, the Skyhawks retook a three-point lead the rest of the way, the last coming on an Isaiah Burnett jumper at the 10:07 mark. Still tied at 60-60 with 6:17 remaining, Ogemuno-Johnson made a free throw to give Rider a lead at the 6:04 mark, sparking a 14-2 Rider run to put the game away. Allen Betrand (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic [Towson/Rhode Island]) contributed seven points in the stretch, including a three-pointer to punctuate the run and put the Broncs on top, 74-62.
 
Quotes & Notes
(On Mervin James and Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson) "It was awesome to see those guys play the way that they did. We're going to need those guys to play that way more often than not. I think they're starting to get back into the groove of things. It's my bench that's got to come along. We've got to be able to give those guys rest. I thought we had depth and I need guys off the bench to help us more. I've got to be able to trust those guys to come in and do the right things, but right now with struggling with that part of it."

"We were a little jumpy in the first half in trying to overhelp. We left some guys open early, guys got into a little bit of a rhythm. In the second half, I thought we did a better job of just one, wearing them down. And the other thing was just trying to be physical with them in the post and then not allow their shooters to get open looks, crowd them and make them put it on the floor. If they were going to shoot a three, it was going to be more of a contested, into them type defense in the second half." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider and Stonehill met for the first time in the two programs' histories.
- The Broncs went 3-0 in a stretch of games against the team that left the MAAC (Monmouth), its replacement (Mount St. Mary's) and the team that took its place in the Northeast Conference (Stonehill).   

Broncs by the Numbers
- The double-double was James' first as a Bronc and the 10^th of his collegiate career.
- James' 23 points are a point off his Rider high (24 at Quinnipiac, Jan. 19, 2022) and two points off his collegiate career high (25 vs. Carver, Dec. 6, 2020 at North Alabama).
- His 13 rebounds are his most at Rider and one off his career high of 14 (twice at North Alabama).
- James' five assists are a new career high.
- Ogemuno-Johnson matched his career high with 19 points on 7-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. He also added nine rebounds and three assists. All three are season highs.
- Murray made 6-of-12 attempts from the floor, including 4-of-7 from long range and all four of his free-throw attempts for 20 points. He also grabbed five rebounds and added three assists. His four three-pointers made matched his season high (4-5 at Providence, Nov. 8).
- Betrand added seven points and a career-high eight rebounds. All seven of his points came in the decisive 14-2 run as the Broncs pulled away late.
- Rider outshot Stonehill, 46.8 percent (29-62) to 42.6 percent (23-54) from the floor, including a 53.6 percent (15-28) to 41.7 percent (10-24) edge in the second half.
- Stonehill took a 39.4 percent (13-33) to 33.3 percent (6-18) edge from long range.
- The Broncs outshot the Skyhawks, 82.4 percent (14-17) to 57.1 percent (8-14) at the free-throw line.
- The Broncs dominated the boards, 43-28, including a 12-4 edge on the offensive glass.
- Rider took advantages of 38-18 in the paint and 19-0 on second chances.
- Stonehill outscored the Broncs' bench, 25-4, and took a 14-7 edge on fast-break points.
- Both teams led for more than 18 minutes of game play, with Stonehill leading for 19:45 to the Broncs' 18:02.

Up Next
Following an 11-day break for final exams, the Broncs return home to face Delaware on Dec. 19. Tip-off from Alumni Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.