RIVERDALE, NY – Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) led the Broncs with 17 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell at Manhattan, 84-78, in overtime Sunday afternoon at Draddy Gym. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 10-16 (6-10 MAAC), while the Jaspers improve to 14-11 (7-9 MAAC).

After a back-and-forth start to the game, the Broncs used a 13-1 run to build a double-digit lead, 24-14, with 6:41 left in the first half. Jeremiah Pope (Clinton, NC/Clinton [Brunswick C.C.]) scored seven points in the run. Still a nine-point advantage following an Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) jumper with 1:48 remaining in the period, Manhattan scored the final four points of the half to pull to within five at the break. Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) and Powell led the Broncs with 10 points apiece in the first 20 minutes.

After Rider pushed its lead back to 10, 50-40, following two Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) free throws and a James lay-up following a second technical foul on Manhattan's Ant Nelson, the Jaspers responded with an 8-0 run and extended the spurt to 17-4 to take their first lead since just under the 11-minute mark of the first half.

After the teams traded leads and ties, Manhattan built an eight-point lead on Jose Perez's step-back jumper at the 1:36 mark. But Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School [Ole Miss]) answered with a three, the Broncs got a steal at midcourt and fed Vaughn again for a fast-break lay-up to cut the deficit to three. Rider then got a defensive stop and Manhattan opted to foul Powell with 16 seconds left instead of allowing a three-point attempt. Powell connected on both free throws, the Broncs got a trap in the backcourt, James came up with a steal and was fouled on a drive with eight seconds remaining in regulation. He made 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game before Manhattan's attempt wouldn't fall, sending the game to overtime.

Perez opened the overtime scoring with consecutive turnaround jumpers, before Powell connected on a three to cut the deficit to one. But The Broncs wouldn't score again and Manhattan scored its final five points from the free-throw line to close out the 84-78 win.  

Quotes & Notes
"We just got intimidated. We backed down. Guys got afraid to still cut hard while they were grabbing us. You've got to cut hard, you've got to move hard, you've got to screen hard."

"We've just got to keep playing. They're basketball players. That's all I know. We've got to get back to practice on Tuesday and coach them up. We know we can play with anybody. That's not the question. Can we beat anybody when we get to these stretches down toward the end to close games out?" – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Manhattan, 34-26. The two teams split a weekend series in Riverdale last year, before the Broncs defeated the Jaspers in Lawrenceville on Feb. 8. Rider is now 13-8 against Manhattan under Head Coach Kevin Baggett, including a 5-6 mark at Draddy Gym.
- Rider is now 0-3 in overtime games this season, all in MAAC games, and the Broncs have now fallen in five-straight overtime contests dating back to 2018-19. The Broncs last won in overtime on Dec. 16, 2017, against Wagner.
- The Broncs return to action Friday, when they play host to Niagara. Tip-off from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Powell led the Broncs with 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-8 from long range and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.
- Vaughn scored 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 2-for-4 from long range.
- James scored 15 points on 7-of-17 and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
- Murray finished with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the floor and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. He also dished out nine assists and grabbed six rebounds in the full 45 minutes. It was the second time in his career he's played every minute of an overtime contest (Mar. 4, 2021 vs. Monmouth).
- Ogemuno-Johnson added nine points, six rebounds and three steals.
- Rider outshot Manhattan, 45.1 percent (32-71) to 44.8 percent (30-67) from the floor and 31.6 percent (6-19) to 26.3 percent (5-19) from long range.
- Manhattan took a 79.2 percent (19-24) to 72.7 percent (8-11) edge from the free-throw line.
- The Broncs took a 46-34 edge in points in the paint.
- Manhattan's bench outscored Rider's, 26-9.
- Rider led the game for more than twice as long as Manhattan, 25:59 to 12:29.