ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – All five Broncs scored in double figures, led by 20 points from graduate forward Dimencio Vaughn (New York, NY/Callaway/The Masters School [Ole Miss]) as the ninth-seeded Rider University men's basketball team defeated No. 8 Manhattan, 79-67, in the MAAC Championship First Round Tuesday evening at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. With the win, the Broncs (13-18) move on to face top-seeded Iona in tomorrow's quarterfinals, while the Jaspers end their season at 15-15.  

Rider jumped out to a double-digit lead early, extending to a 21-8 advantage on an Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Monsignor Bonner) putback at the 13:38 mark. But Manhattan would storm back with 21 of the next 28 points to take its only lead of the half, 29-28, on a fast-break dunk from Josh Roberts at the 5:53 mark. Rider immediately retook the lead with a 7-0 run and took the same six-point lead into the break. Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) led Rider with 13 points in the half, while Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) added 10 and Ogemuno-Johnson contributed eight points and eight rebounds.

After Manhattan's Samba Diallo hit a three to open the second-half scoring, the Broncs responded with an 11-0 run to push the advantage to 14, 53-39. Ogemuno-Johnson scored a pair of buckets in the run, while Powell capped it with a triple at the 16:41 mark. The lead swelled to as many as 17 on a pair of occasions and Rider maintained a double-digit lead for the final 17+ minutes of the game.

Quotes & Notes
"Proud of my guys. Proud of everybody on our team. Everybody was locked in, ready to go. (Mervin James and Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson) did an unbelievable job. But everybody did. Everybody on the bench. I'm proud of these guys. Big win. We lost (at Manhattan), just what? A week ago? Week and a half ago? So to come back and play as well as we did is continuing to show growth on this team as the year goes on." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

"The last game we had was a lot of push and shove. The guys played physical. After the game, after we lost, when we went back to practice, Coach emphasized being dogs and playing hard. That's what we did as a team. Tonight, we needed this one. So that's what everybody banded together for." – Graduate center Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson

- Rider is now 16-23 all-time in the MAAC Tournament. This is the first time the Broncs are the No. 9 seed. Rider is 3-0 in the 8-9 game, winning in 2014 and 2016 as the No. 8 seed.
- The Broncs are now 9-2 all-time in MAAC First Round games, including the last six opportunities and all five in Head Coach Kevin Baggett's 10-year tenure.
- Rider leads the all-time series with Manhattan, 35-26. The two teams split the prior two games this season, with each team winning on its home court. The Broncs defeated the Jaspers in Lawrenceville on Feb. 8, before falling in overtime in Riverdale on Feb. 20. Rider is 14-8 against Manhattan under Head Coach Kevin Baggett, including a win in the 2017 First Round. Rider is now 3-1 all-time in the MAAC Tournament against Manhattan. 
- The Broncs return to action tomorrow night, when they face top-seeded Iona in the MAAC Quarterfinals. Tip-off from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Five Broncs scored in double-figures for the third time this season (Nov. 24 vs. Bucknell, Feb. 13 vs. Siena).
- Vaughn scored his 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-3 from long range and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed seven rebounds and made four steals.
- James and Powell each added 16 points. James made 5-of-10 attempts, including 1-of-2 from deep and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. He grabbed eight rebounds, a career-high four assists and two blocks and also added two steals.
- Powell made 4-of-8 three-point attempts and 4-of-5 free-throw attempts. He also added three assists, two steals and a block.
- Ogemuno-Johnson posted his third double-double of the season and the fourth of his career with 15 points and a career-high-matching 12 rebounds. He made 7-of-9 field-goal attempts and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line.
- Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) chipped in with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a steal.
- The Broncs outshot Manhattan, 45.2 percent (28-62) to 41.7 percent (25-60) from the floor, including a 50.0 percent (8-16) to 27.6 percent (8-29) advantage from long range.
- Rider also took a 71.4 percent (15-21) to 64.3 percent (9-14) edge from the free-throw line.
- The Broncs controlled the glass, 42-32, including a 13-10 edge on the offensive boards. The advantage resulted in an 18-7 edge in second-chance points.
- Rider led for 38:25 of game time after never trailing last time out against Monmouth for a combined 77:43 ahead the last two games compared to only 1:18 of playing from behind.