GAME 33 – Friday, March 11, 2022
2022 MAAC Championships - Semifinals
No. 9 Rider Broncs (14-18, 8-12 MAAC) vs. No. 4 Monmouth Hawks (19-12, 11-9 MAAC)
Location: Atlantic City, NJ – Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Tip: 6 p.m.
Tickets – GoBroncsTix.com
Live Video – ESPNews and ESPN+
Live Audio – 107.7 The Bronc Retro
Live Stats – MAACSports.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/RiderMBB
 
What You Need To Know
- Rider continues MAAC Championship play as the No. 9 seed Friday with a semifinal contest against the winner of Thursday night's quarterfinal game between No. 4 Monmouth and No. 5 Niagara. The Broncs have advanced to the semis for the first time since 2011.
- Dwight Murray, Jr. scored 19 of his game-high 21 points, including the game-winner with 7.5 seconds left, in the second half of the Broncs' 71-70 upset of top-seeded and defending-champion Iona.
- All five Rider starters scored in double figures in a 79-67 First Round win over Manhattan Tuesday.
- Rider is 17-23 all-time in the MAAC Tournament. This is the first time the Broncs are the No. 9 seed. The Broncs are 2-3 in MAAC Semifinal games, with their last win coming in 2008. The Broncs reached the semifinals in four-straight years from 2008-11, while making their first appearance in 2005.
- Rider and Monmouth have met twice in the MAAC Championships, splitting a pair of games in 2014 (Rider win in First Round) and 2016 (Monmouth win in Quarterfinals).
- Rider leads the all-time series with Monmouth, 32-26. MU swept a pair of close games last season in Lawrenceville - a 77-74 overtime decision to open the weekend series and a 65-62 win to take the sweep, before each team won on its home court this season - a 60-58 Monmouth win on Feb. 18 and a 74-65 Rider win on Mar. 5. Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett is 10-11 against King Rice's Monmouth teams since taking over in 2012-13.   
- George Papas leads Monmouth at 15.3 points and 2.9 assists per game, while Walker Miller has added 14.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Shavar Reynolds has added 14.1 points per game, while Marcus McClary is another significant scorer at 8.8 points per game. Nikkei Rutty leads Monmouth at 7.6 rebounds per game.
- Allen Powell has stepped up over the last 15 games, averaging 15.1 points. 
- Dimencio Vaughn became Rider's all-time steals leader with five thefts against Saint Peter's on Jan. 16. His total now stands at 227 steals. He also moved into ninth in scoring (1,639) on Feb. 27 vs. Iona, while his 805 rebounds rank fifth. Already the only player in the top 15 in points, rebounds, blocks and steals, his 81st block on Feb. 13 put him in the top 10 in all four categories.
- 10th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 161-151 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.
- Listen to all Rider men's and women's home games this season, along with select road games, on 107.7 The Bronc Retro WRRC2. Tune in online at 1077TheBronc.com, or download our free Google Play, Apple and Alexa apps and skills. Search and download: WRRC2.