LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College H.S.) scored a team-high 17 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell to Niagara, 78-74, Friday night at Alumni Gym. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 5-13 (2-5 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles improve to 8-9 (4-3 MAAC).

The Broncs quickly jumped out to a 16-6 lead at the 13:37 mark of the first half with a 12-2 run. Tariq Ingraham (Philadelphia, PA/Bonner-Prendergast [Wake Forest]) and Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) scored four points apiece in the run. But the Purple Eagles answered with a 12-3 run to whittle the Broncs' lead down to one. Another 10-1 Niagara run gave the Purple Eagles their first lead since 2-0. The run was punctuated by a Luke Bumbalough three-pointer with 47 seconds left to put Niagara up 38-34, before an Anthony McCall (Philadelphia, PA/Academy of the New Church) drive cut the deficit to two at the break. Ingraham led the Broncs with 11 points and seven rebounds at the half.

After Niagara extended its lead to eight on an Ahmad Henderson II three at the 15:20 mark, Rider rattled off a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the half, 51-50, on Powell's three-pointer at the 13:20 mark. T.J. Weeks Jr. (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken Catholic [UMass]) sparked the run with a pair of three's of his own. Another 8-2 Rider spurt shortly thereafter left the Broncs with a four-point lead and the Broncs' advantage remained four with less than five minutes remaining.

But the Purple Eagles got consecutive Bumbalough three's to retake the lead, and though the knotted the game at 70-70 on a pair of Weeks Jr. free throws with 1:23 left, Henderson's fadeaway 15-footer with one minute remaining put Niagara on top for good. Powell's attempt at the three on the other end wouldn't fall, the Purple Eagles connected on all six of their free-throw attempts the rest of the way and the Broncs could draw no closer than to within two for the remainder of the game.

Quotes & Notes
"Tough loss. Tough loss. All I can kind of frame is tough loss."

"It's been frustrating. We come out of timeouts and don't do what we're supposed to do. Too many broken assignments. Our basketball IQ's have got to get better. The things that we do in the game in key moments… not good. Not good." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Niagara, 31-26. Niagara's win at Alumni Gym snapped a six-game Rider winning streak at home over the Purple Eagles, dating back to Niagara's last win in Lawrenceville on Feb. 21, 2015.
- The Broncs trailed at the half and are now 0-11 this season when facing a deficit after 20 minutes.
- After scoring in double figures in each of the first 16 games of the season, James has now been held to eight points in the last two games.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Powell led the Broncs with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from long range.
- Weeks Jr. added 14 points on 3-of-6 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from long range, and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.
- Ingraham finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block.
- Corey McKeithan (Windsor, CT/Windsor) chipped in with six poins, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
- McCall also finished with six points and two steals, making 2-of-3 from the floor and both of his free-throw attempts.
- Niagara outshot Rider, 51.9 percent (27-52) to 43.3 percent (26-60) from the floor, including a 50.0 percent (9-18) to 45.5 percent (5-11) edge from beyond the arc.
- Rider took an 81.0 percent (17-21) to 71.4 percent (15-21) edge from the free-throw line.
- The Purple Eagles outrebounded the Broncs, 36-29.
- The Broncs forced 17 Niagara turnovers, while committing just eight turnovers, resulting in a 24-11 edge in points off turnovers.
- Rider also had a 15-4 edge in fast-break points.
- Rider led for 24:55 of game time to Niagara's 12:39 with a lead.  

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Thursday, Jan. 25, when they travel to Saint Peter's. Tip-off from the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.