NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Allen Betrand (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic [Towson/Rhode Island]) scored a team-high 16 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team was edged by Niagara, 61-59, Monday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. With the loss, the Broncs slip to 6-7 (3-1 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles improve to 8-5 (3-1 MAAC).

Niagara created separation in the first half, going on a 12-3 run capped by a Sam Iorio three at the 3:06 mark. Consecutive buckets from Allen Betrand (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic [Towson/Rhode Island]) and Corey McKeithan (Windsor, CT/Windsor) cut the deficit to six, before a Niagara lay-up and three free throws awarded after light lower-leg contact following the landing on an Iorio three-point attempt pushed the Purple Eagle lead to 11. Betrand cut the deficit to eight at the break, converting a conventional three-point play on the Broncs' final possession.

Betrand led the Broncs with seven points in the period. The difference in the first half came on points off turnovers (13-4 Niagara advantage), three-point shooting (6-15 for Niagara, 1-4 for Rider) and free-throws (7-8 for Niagara, 2-3 for Rider). The Broncs outshot the Purple Eagles, 45.8 percent (11-24) to 38.5 percent (10-26) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

Rider came out hot in the second half, using a 10-2 run to even the score at 37-37. Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) scored the first five on a conventional three-point play and a pair of free throws, while Betrand capped the run with a three-point play of his own and a transition floater.

Niagara responded with the next five points, but Rider later took its first lead of the half, 50-49, on a Betrand jumper at the 7:50 mark. Niagara retook the lead and Rider tied the game twice more before David Mitchell's jumper gave Niagara the lead for good. Down four, Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) made two free throws to cut the deficit to two with 14.6 seconds left. Following a missed front end of a 1-and-1, Murray's attempt at the buzzer wouldn't fall.

Quotes & Notes
"It was a missed opportunity, but we battled. We didn't always do the right things in order to win the game, but we battled. When you're on the road, you've got to play a clean game and come out with those rebounds at the end of the game. Give credit to Thomasson, who made some big shots at the end. He made his and we didn't make ours down the stretch." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Niagara, 30-25, including a regular-season sweep last season. The Broncs are now 8-4 against Niagara at the Gallagher Center under Head Coach Kevin Baggett since his debut season of 2012-13, while posting a 15-5 record overall against Niagara under Baggett.
- Rider has swept the MAAC's Western New York duo of Canisius and Niagara just five times in 26 years in the league (2001-02 – two separate trips, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2018-19).

Broncs by the Numbers
- Betrand made 6-of-9 attempts from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line for his team-high 16 points.
- James added 15 points on 4-of-7 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
- Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Bonner-Prendergast) also scored in double-figures, shooting 4-of-6 from both the floor and the free-throw line. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked a shot.
- Murray added eight points, four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
- A game after getting 26 points from its bench, Rider got just three points from its reserves. Niagara didn't do much better with six.
- Though the turnover discrepancy was close (Rider – 13, Niagara – 12), Niagara enjoyed a 19-10 edge in points off turnovers.
- Rider took a 30-16 edge in points in the paint.
- Niagara turned a 9-7 edge on the offensive glass into a 13-7 advantage in second-chance points.
- Rider and Niagara were dead even in field-goal percentage (40.8 percent, 20-49) and rebounds (29).
- Niagara took a 37.5 percent (9-24) to 12.5 percent (1-8) edge from long range. The eight three-point attempts are a season low for Rider by a six-attempt margin.
- Niagara led for 28:39 of game time to Rider's 8:21 with a lead.

Up Next
The Broncs return home Friday to face Quinnipiac. Opening tip from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.