LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) scored a game-high 26 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell to Canisius, 81-78, Friday night at Alumni Gym. The loss snaps the Broncs' eight-game winning streak, pushing their season record to 14-10 (11-4 MAAC). Canisius improves to 7-18 (5-11 MAAC).

Rider was red hot in the first half, shooting 80.0 percent (20-25) from the floor. Rider built a lead of as many as 13 points on a pair of Corey McKeithan (Windsor, CT/Windsor) free throws with 8:15 remaining. Tariq Ingraham (Philadelphia, PA/Bonner-Prendergast [Wake Forest]) and Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) had 11 points apiece, while Murray added 10 points.

Canisius outscored Rider, 19-8, to open the second half to take its first lead of the game on a Jordan Henderson three-pointer at the 12:17 mark and never relinquished the advantage. The Griffs' lead swelled to seven on a Siem Uijtendaal three-pointer at the eight-minute mark. On three occasions, Rider cut the deficit to one, but the Griffs held on for the victory.  

Quotes & Notes
"(Canisius) was a team that was more desperate than us, a team that I warned our guys about, but we didn't get the message today. We didn't get the message this week. We didn't play very well. We didn't cut. We stood around. Too many turnovers. Too many poor decisions. Thought it was going to be easy because we could score. We weren't stopping them. We gave up 40 points at halftime. That's not the team that's been defending in this eight-game winning streak."  – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Canisius, 40-17. However, the series has been much closer in recent years, with the Broncs posting a 11-10 record against the Griffs in Head Coach Kevin Baggett's 11 years at the helm. Eight of the last 11 meetings have been decided by three points or less.
- The Broncs are now 7-3 at Alumni Gym this season.

Broncs by the Numbers
- After shooting 80.0 percent (20-25) from the floor in the first half, Rider shot just 34.5 percent (10-29) in the second.
- Murray scored his game-high 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. He also added a pair of steals.
- James and Ingraham each finished with 11 points. However, neither scored in the second half.
- Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) scored eight of his 10 points in the second half.
- Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Bonner-Prendergast) added seven points and team highs in rebounds (eight) and assists (three).  
- McKeithan also scored seven points, all in the first half.
- For the game, Rider shot 55.6 percent (30-54), its second-highest percentage of the year (57.7 percent, 30-52 vs. Monmouth, Nov. 30).
- Canisius countered at 53.1 percent (26-49), including 48.0 percent (12-25) from long range. The 53.1 percent is a Rider opponent season high and just the second time the Broncs have allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent this season (52.8 percent vs. Central Arkansas, Nov. 19).
- Rider made 80.0 percent (12-15) from the free-throw line to Canisius' 65.4 percent (17-26).
- The Broncs took a 44-24 advantage in points in the paint.
- Canisius enjoyed advantages of 14-6 on second chances, 13-6 on fast breaks and 27-18 in bench scoring.
- Rider took a 29-25 edge on the boards, with Canisius taking a 6-5 advantage in offensive rebounds.
- The game featured just one lead change. Rider scored first and led for 27:20 of game time. Canisius led for the final 12:17.  

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Sunday, when they travel to Quinnipiac. Tip from M&T Bank Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN3.