LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College HS) scored a season-high 24 points as the Rider University men's basketball team earned a 69-66 win over Siena Friday night at Alumni Gym. With the win, the Broncs (15-11, 12-5 MAAC) take sole possession of second place in the MAAC, edging ahead of the Saints (17-11, 11-6 MAAC).

Siena came out fast with nine of the first 12 points to build an early lead, but Rider responded with a 10-2 run, capped by a Tyrel Bladen (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) tip-in at the 9:39 mark to give the Broncs their first lead, 13-11. Following four lead changes and a tie, the Broncs went on a 10-2 run to open a 27-20 lead and extended to a 35-23 lead on consecutive Powell three-pointers, the second at the 1:52 mark. Siena scored four of the final six points of the half to bring the Rider lead down to 37-27 at the break. Powell led all scorers with 13 first-half points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-5 from long range. Rider outshot Siena, 53.3 percent (16-30) to 30.3 percent (10-33) in the opening 20 minutes.

The Saints used an 11-3 run early in the second half to pull to within two by the 10:28 mark and later scored nine straight to surge ahead by three just shy of the eight-minute mark on a fast-break lay-up from Andrew Platek. Less than two minutes later, a pair of Jackson Stormo free throws pushed the Saints' advantage to 58-51. But the Broncs weren't done. Powell answered with a second-chance jumper and a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to three.

Still a four-point deficit for the Broncs with just over four minutes left, Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) made a pair of free throws and followed with a conventional three-point play to give Rider a 62-61 lead with 3:10 remaining. A pair of Michael Eley free throws at the 2:43 mark gave the lead back to Siena and 1-of-2 from Stormo pushed the Siena advantage to 64-62 with 1:50 remaining. But the Broncs' defense turned up from there and only allowed a meaningless bucket at the buzzer the rest of the way.

Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) connected on a putback with just over a minute left to tie the game after making a steal on the other end to start the possession. The Broncs forced another Siena turnover with 36 seconds left and following a Zahrion Blue (Princeton, NJ/Princeton [Lincoln (Pa.)]) misfire on a drive, James was fouled going for the offensive rebound. James made both free throws with 13 seconds left and, after Siena called timeout with 11 seconds left, the Broncs drew a five-second violation on the ensuing inbounds play. Powell was fouled and made 1-of-2. But after missing the second, Murray jumped a pass up court for the steal and easy transition lay-up with four seconds remaining. With the game decided, Siena's Javian McCollum connected on a short jumper to account for the final 69-66 margin.    

Quotes & Notes
"Did we make it interesting for everybody? I know we kept everybody on edge. I sure as hell was on edge. That is the MAAC and that is Rider Basketball at its finest. We played a great first half. I don't know what happened early in the second half. But turnovers, some miscommunication. And then we settled in and said, 'we've got time.' Possession by possession, we fought our way back in and (Powell and Murray) hit some big shots and some big free throws."

"These two guys grabbed everybody. I saw it down the other end when they were on the free-throw line. I watched DJ and AP grab the group and got in the huddle. Whatever they said, they did it. It's not Coach Baggett, it's these guys, man. And I'm riding along with them." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

"I've had some up-and-down games. But I believe in my game that I'm always going to have an up game. So I don't ever thing I'm going to have a down game. That's just a bad shooting day for me. So, I've still got the same confidence coming into every game that I'm going to come in and do what I've got to do to be productive for my team to win." – Rider senior guard Allen Powell  

- Siena leads the all-time series with the Broncs, 38-20. The two teams split a home-and-home series last season, with the road team winning each game, while the home team won each of this year's contests.
- With tonight's results around the MAAC, the Broncs have clinched an opening-round bye in the MAAC Championships, to be played March 7-11 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
- Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Delta State, Nigeria/Bonner-Prendergast) tied Mike Ringgold's program games played record of 133 tonight. He'd break the record with his next game played.
- The Saints had won the last three meetings at Alumni Gym. With tonight's win, the Broncs evened the series at 6-6 lead in Lawrenceville in Kevin Baggett's 11 years leading Rider.
- The Broncs are now 8-3 in home games this season.
- Rider led at the half for the sixth-straight game.
- Each of Rider's last four games and 10 of 17 in MAAC play have been decided by three points or less. 11 of the 17 MAAC contests have been decided by five points or less.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Powell scored his 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-7 from long range. He also made 3-of-5 free-throw attempts and dished out two assists. The 24 points are a point off his career high, set Feb. 27, 2021, at Saint Peter's.
- Murray finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. He made 5-of-15 field-goal attempts, but connected on all six of his free-throw attempts.
- James posted his team-leading fifth double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two steals.
- Ogemuno-Johnson chipped in with four points, six rebounds, a block, a steal and an assist.
- For the game, the Broncs outshot the Saints, 46.4 percent (26-56) to 42.6 percent (23-54).
- The Saints took a slight 35.0 percent (7-20) to 33.3 percent (4-12) edge from long range.
- Neither team was exemplary from the free-throw line, especially early. However, Rider made six of its last seven to outshoot the Saints, 72.2 percent (13-18) to 54.2 percent (13-24).
- Rider was outrebounded by Siena, 36-34, marking the first time since Jan. 15, a span of 10 games, that the Broncs have been outrebounded.
- Rider took advantages of 23-7 off turnovers and 36-32 in the paint.
- Siena's bench outscored Rider's, 18-10.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Sunday, when they host Mount St. Mary's at 2 p.m. on ESPN+. The Northeast Conference Champion 1992-93 team will be honored during the game in the 30^th-anniversary year of its historic title.