LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) led the Rider University men's basketball team with 19 points, five assists and three steals as the Broncs erased a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat Niagara, 65-62, Friday night at Alumni Gym. With the win, the Broncs improve to 8-9 (5-3 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles slip to 9-9 (4-5 MAAC).  

Niagara surged ahead with an early 11-0 run to take a 13-4 advantage and led for the remainder of the period. Rider responded with the next seven points to cut the deficit to two and the Broncs' deficit fluctuated between two and eight points for the remainder of the half. Niagara used 51.9 percent (14-27) shooting, including 7-of-13 from long range (53.8 percent) to take a 35-30 lead into the halftime break. Rider countered at 44.4 percent (12-27) from the field and 25.0 percent (2-of-8) from long range.

The Broncs got to the line for eight attempts, but converted just four, while Niagara did not attempt a free throw. Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) led Rider with eight points in the period, while Murray and Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) had six points apiece.

The Purple Eagles scored eight of the first 10 points in the second half to push their lead to 11. But the Broncs responded with a 14-1 run to take a two-point lead just past the midway point of the period. Murray scored seven points in the run, while James had five. Three or fewer points separated the two teams for the remainder of the contest, which featured eight lead changes and six ties. But after trailing by three following two Noah Thomasson free throws with 1:29 remaining, the Broncs scored the game's final six points to take the victory.

Murray drew a foul and made both free throws to cut it to one, before James stole Thomasson's cross-court pass and was fouled. After connecting on both free throws to give Rider a one-point lead, Thomasson misfired on the other end. With a nine-second difference from game to shot clock, Niagara opted to play for the defensive stop. Murray drove down the lane to the baseline and wrapped a pass to Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Bonner-Prendergast) for a lay-up on the weak side and a three-point lead with 11 seconds remaining. Thomasson's three from the top of the key was short, drawing front rim, and the Broncs collected the win.

Quotes & Notes
"Hard-earned win. Didn't always look good in the first half. Too many breakdowns. We gave up seven three's in the first half. I thought we did a way better job in the second half. And we just needed to execute better. 13-for-22 (three-point field goals) – that's what kept them in the game. Tough shots by Thomasson. They're a tough team. But we got tougher. We were able to tougher in the second half." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Niagara, 31-25, including the last six meetings at Alumni Gym. The Broncs salvaged a regular-season split after the Purple Eagles won the first meeting, 61-59, on Jan. 2 in Western New York.  
- Rider has now won 34 games under 11th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett when trailing in the game by double digits. The Broncs have now overcome a double-digit deficit in back-to-back games after defeating Iona on the road this past Sunday despite an 18-point Gaels advantage early in the second half.
- Allen Betrand (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic [Towson/Rhode Island]) returned to the starting line-up after coming off the bench against Iona.
- Tariq Ingraham (Philadelphia, PA/Bonner-Prendergast [Wake Forest]) also made his first start since Nov. 19 against Central Arkansas.
- Rider has won consecutive games when trailing at the half. The Broncs are 4-6 when trailing at the half this season, but 3-2 in MAAC play.  
- The Broncs are now 4-5 on the season in games decided by five points or less, but 4-2 in league play.
- The Broncs are now 4-2 at Alumni Gym this season.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Murray scored a game-high 19 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the floor and 9-of-13 from the free-throw line. He also added a team-high five assists and three steals, while grabbing four rebounds.
- James added 18 points on 5-of-9 from the floor, including 1-of-2 from long range, and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. He added a team-high eight rebounds.
- Powell added 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 2-for-4 from long range. He added three assists and two steals.
- Nehemiah Benson (Streetsboro, OH/Lutheran East) gave Rider a lift with six points off the bench.
- Ogemuno-Johnson and Corey McKeithan (Windsor, CT/Windsor) added four points apiece off the bench. The Broncs were +11 and +7, respectively, with the duo in the game.
- Rider outscored Niagara, 28-12, in the paint, 10-0 on second chances and 8-0 on fast breaks.
- The Broncs took a 13-7 edge off turnovers and the Rider bench outscored Niagara's 14-2.
- Rider outshot Niagara, 46.8 percent (22-47) to 45.5 percent (20-44) from the floor.
- Niagara did its damage from long range, making 59.1 percent (13-22) of its three-point attempts to Rider's 25.0 percent (3-12).
- The Purple Eagles took a 90.0 percent (9-10) to 75.0 percent (18-24) advantage from the free-throw line, albeit in far fewer attempts.
- The Broncs outrebounded Niagara, 30-22.
- Niagara led for 30:33 of game time to Rider's 6:02 with the lead.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action on Sunday, when they play host to Manhattan. Opening tip from Alumni Gym is slated for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.