VILLANOVA, PA – Flash Burton (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) scored a team-high 15 points, but the Rider University men's basketball team fell at Villanova, 72-48, Wednesday night at Finneran Pavilion. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 4-3, while the Wildcats improve to 4-4.

Rider scored first on a Jay Alvarez (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area [Houston Christian]) three-pointer at the 17:40 mark of the first, but Villanova scored the next five points and following a T.J. Weeks Jr. (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken Catholic [UMass]) triple to retake a 6-5 lead at the 15:27 mark, the Wildcats hit a pair of threes and wouldn't trail again. Still just a three-point deficit, 23-20, following the third of three Burton pull-up jumpers in the period with 4:36 left in the half, Villanova ended the half on a 13-0 run to take a 36-20 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Burton led the Broncs with six points in the half, while Alvarez added five. Rider matched Villanova's 39 percent shooting, but was plagued by 12 first-half turnovers.

The Wildcats' lead continued to swell to as many as 29 on three occasions in the second half and the Broncs scored seven of the final nine points to close to the final 72-48 score.

Quotes & Notes
"I thought we were doing a good job. We cut the lead to I think three. And then we just had some turnovers, which led to their run. Next thing you know, we're down 16 by half. It was disappointing. Our effort was not good tonight. We just didn't do anything right, to be honest with you. It starts with me and everyone is accountable for this loss." – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- The Broncs and Wildcats met for the first time since December 2013. Villanova has won at least 16 straight against Rider, and maybe 18, dating back to the 1940's. While both programs' record books have a 53-47 final in the 1945-46 season, both chalk up a win to their respective programs.
- Rider held Villanova's Eric Dixon to 16 points, his first game of fewer than 20 points this season, after entering the game averaging 26.7 points per game. He shot just 4-for-10 from the floor.  

Broncs by the Numbers
- Burton made 7-of-12 attempts from the floor and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. He also added four rebounds and two assists.
- Alvarez also finished in double figures with 11 points on 4-of-8 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from long range. He grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
- Ife West-Ingram (Philadelphia, PA/Abington Friends) and Cole McCabe (Miami Beach, FL/Miami Country Day/IMG Academy) each added six points. McCabe also had two assists.
- Rider took a 43.8 percent (21-48) to 41.4 percent (24-58) edge from the floor.
- The Wildcats outshot the Broncs, 39.5 percent (15-38) to 23.5 percent (4-17) from long range and 75.0 percent (9-12) to 25.0 percent (2-8) from the free-throw line.
- Rider took a 33-32 edge on the glass.
- Rider outscored Villanova, 22-10, in the paint.
- The Broncs' bench outscored that of Villanova, 23-21.
- Villanova enjoyed a 26-9 edge in points off turnovers and 7-0 off turnovers.
   
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they play host to Delaware in their home opener. Tipoff from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.