GAME 23 – Thursday, February 8, 2024
Rider Broncs (8-14, 5-6 MAAC) vs. Fairfield Stags (13-9, 7-4 MAAC)
Location: Fairfield, CT – Leo D. Mahoney Arena
Tip: 7 p.m.
Live Video – ESPN+
Live Stats – FairfieldStags.com
X (Formerly Twitter) – Twitter.com/RiderMBB

What You Need To Know
- Rider returns to action Thursday when it travels to Fairfield.
- The Broncs saw a season-long three-game winning streak snapped Sunday at Iona. A tie game at the half, Iona surged ahead by as many as 24 with less than nine minutes left in regulation. The Broncs whittled the deficit all the way down to the final one-point margin, 94-93.
- Freshman DJ Dudley erupted for a season-high 28 points off the bench at Iona, shooting 6-for-11 from the floor, including 3-for-6 from long range and 13-for-14 from the free-throw line.
- Rider earned road wins at Saint Peter's and Mount St. Mary's and a convincing home win over Siena in the winning streak. All 13 Broncs to see the floor vs. Siena scored at least two points. 
- Mervin James averaged 23.0 points and 8.0 rebounds against the Mountaineers and Peacocks, including 16-for-16 shooting from the free-throw line and was named MAAC Player of the Week on Jan. 29.
- James leads the MAAC at 19.2 points per game. 
- James and Allen Powell each reached 1,000 points at Rider earlier this season, while T.J. Weeks Jr. also scored his 1,000th collegiate career, spanning four years at UMass and this season with the Broncs.  
- Fairfield features a balanced attack, with Jalen Leach (15.6 ppg.), Caleb Fields (15.4 ppg.) and Brycen Goodine (13.8 ppg.) all averaging in double figures. Jasper Floyd had added 9.3 ppg. and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Louis Bleechmore (8.6 ppg.) and Peyton Smith (8.3 ppg.) have also made strong contributions. 
- Fairfield leads the all-time series with the Broncs, 38-36, including an 88-81 win in Lawrenceville on Dec. 3.
- 12th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 185-180 record. Baggett won MAAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Only John Carpenter (292) and Thomas Leyden (187) have more wins at Rider.
- Listen to all Rider men's and women's home games this season, along with select road games, on 107.7 The Bronc Retro WRRC2. Tune in online at 1077TheBronc.com, or download our free Google Play, Apple, Alexa, Audacy and MyTuner apps and skills. Search and download: WRRC2.