LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) scored a team-high 21 points and T.J. Weeks Jr. (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken Catholic [UMass]) hit a season-high six three-pointers and scored 20 points as the Rider University men's basketball team outlasted Canisius, 79-76, in overtime Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gym. Rider (4-11, 1-3 MAAC) snapped a three-game skid. Canisius (6-8, 1-3 MAAC) dropped its fourth-straight.

Scoring spurts were the story of the first half, as Canisius scored the game's first four points, the Broncs responded with the next 12 and Canisius answered right back with a 9-0 run to retake a 13-12 lead. The Broncs answered shortly thereafter with a 16-4 run to extend to a 28-19 run, with Weeks Jr. hitting his fourth three-pointer on as many attempts. Canisius trimmed the Broncs' lead to six, 31-25, at the half. Weeks Jr.'s 12 points led the Broncs. Rider took a 7-0 advantage in fast-break scoring in the first 20 minutes.

Rider extended its lead to 12, 42-30, on Weeks Jr.'s fifth three-pointer of the game at the 14:05 mark of the second half, but the Griffs wouldn't go away. Canisius began chipping away with the next six and cut the Broncs' lead to one with an 8-2 run punctuated by a Tre Dinkins lay-up at the 6:48 mark. A Dinkins three-pointer at the 4:18 mark tied the game and sparked an 8-0 run to stake the Griffs to a 61-56 lead and the Canisius edge reached six after a Cam Palesse triple at the 2:25 mark. But Rider finished the half on a 7-1 run, including Corey McKeithan's (Windsor, CT/Windsor) game-tying triple with 10 seconds left. Dinkins' attempt with 1.1 seconds left wouldn't fall and James got a shot off at the buzzer off an Anthony McCall (Philadelphia, PA/Academy of the New Church) full-court baseball pass, but it also was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra session, Rider jumped ahead on a McKeithan bucket and two James free throws, before Dinkins evened the score with four-straight for Canisius. James got inside for consecutive buckets, including a slam with at the 1:08 mark and the Broncs would hold on. After 1-of-2 Canisius free throws, Weeks Jr.'s sixth three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining was the dagger, putting Rider on top by six. The Broncs made 3-of-4 free throws in the final seconds, with Dinkins burying a pair of three's to account for the final score.

Quotes & Notes
"This was the third overtime game in the past five games, so we learned. We've got to learn how to finish games the right way. Understand that we played all of these high majors. We weren't in this situation all year long until now. So, we're learning. We've just got to stop making the dumb mistakes down the stretch, make free throws and stop fouling."

(On nine of the last 12 with Canisius being decided by three points or less) "Reggie Witherspoon is a hell of a coach. That's why it's that way."

"We need to exhale for one day. Enjoy it. And then get back to work tomorrow." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider leads the all-time series with Canisius, 41-17. However, the series has been much closer in recent years, with the Broncs posting a 12-10 record against the Griffs in Head Coach Kevin Baggett's 12 years at the helm. Nine of the last 12 meetings have been decided by three points or less.
- Rider led at the half for the second-straight game and the fifth time this season. Rider is 4-1 this year when leading after 20 minutes.  
- The Broncs are now 2-1 in overtime games this season, having won at Delaware on Dec. 20, before falling at home to Penn on Dec. 23.

Broncs by the Numbers
- James scored 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. HE also grabbed six rebounds. It was James' 15^th double-digit output in as many games this season and his seventh of 20 points or more in the last 10.
- Weeks Jr. backed up a then-season-high 19 point (5-of-8 3ptFG) output last time out with a season-high 20 points on 6-of-11 from long range and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out a pair of assists.
- Tariq Ingraham (Philadelphia, PA/Bonner-Prendergast [Wake Forest]) added 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds, making 6-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Four of his eight boards came on the offensive glass.
- McKeithan finished with 11 points, six assists and five rebounds, making 4-of-8 from the floor, 1-of-4 from long range and both of his free-throw attempts.
- Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College H.S.) also finished in double figures with 10 points to go along with four assists and four rebounds. He made 4-of-11 from the floor, 1-of-5 from long range and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line.
- The Broncs outshot Canisius, 43.1 percent (28-65) to 42.4 percent (28-66) from the floor, including a 38.1 percent (8-21) to 32.4 percent (11-34) edge from long range.
- Rider also outshot the Griffs, 75.0 percent (15-20) to 36.0 percent (9-25) from the free-throw line.
- The Broncs took a 41-39 edge on the glass. Canisius took a 12-9 advantage on the offensive glass, with nine of the 12 coming from Frank Mitchell, who finished with 21 rebounds.
- Rider took a 34-26 edge in points in the paint.
- Rider led for 32:44 of game time to 8:01 for Canisius.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Friday, when they play host to Manhattan. Tip-off from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.