LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University Men's Basketball Head Coach Kevin Baggett has announced his team's 2024-25 schedule. The Broncs are set to face four high-major opponents on the road in the non-conference, with a season-opening trip to UCLA (Nov. 4), a meeting with former Siena Head Coach Fran McCaffrey's Iowa Hawkeyes (Nov. 19), a Nov. 27 trip to Villanova and a Dec. 16 trip to Raleigh to face North Carolina State highlighting the docket. The Broncs wrap up their Californian trip with a stop at the University of San Diego (Nov. 6), before playing a pair of games in Maryland (Coppin State – Nov. 9; Navy – Nov. 12).

After returning from Iowa, Rider faces former Broncs assistant coach John Griffin's Bucknell Bison in Lewisburg, PA, on Nov. 23, before taking on Villanova. The home opener features a rematch of last year's double-overtime victory over Delaware on Nov. 30, before the Broncs open league play at Fairfield on Dec. 4. After a Dec. 6 home game against Quinnipiac on Dec. 6, the Broncs return to non-league play for a Dec. 14 home game against Stony Brook. The Broncs travel to N.C. State (Dec. 16) and Penn (Dec. 20) to close out the non-conference slate.

The MAAC league schedule for the 2024-25 season remains 20 games. But with the additions of Merrimack and Sacred Heart to comprise a the 13-team league, each team will play eight opponents in home-and-home series and the four remaining teams once each. This season, the Broncs will play Manhattan and Siena at home and Sacred Heart and Marist on the road in the single regular-season contests against the four schools.

Television information and start times will be announced at a later date.

Holy Family (Exhibition)
Sat., Oct. 26 * Alumni Gym

UCLA
Monday, Nov. 4 * Los Angeles, CA

Series History: First Meeting
Winning Streak: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
2023-24 Record: 16-17 (10-10 Pac-12)
Quickly: The Broncs open the season and UCLA's tenure in the Big 10 in Westwood, facing the Bruins for the first time in the two programs' histories. The Broncs' last win over a Big 10 team came on Dec. 22, 2017, at Penn State, while Rider's last win in California came on Dec. 10, 2016, at Pacific as part of the Gotham Classic.

San Diego
Wednesday, Nov. 6 * San Diego, CA

Series History: First Meeting
Winning Streak: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
2023-24 Record: 18-15 (7-9 WCC)
Quickly: The Broncs face another first-time opponent in the Steve Lavin-led San Diego Toreros. Members of a West Coast Conference long dominated by Gonzaga and Saint Mary's, the Toreros finished with a middle-of-the-pack 7-9 record in league play a year ago. Oregon State and Washington State enter the fold in the WCC for 2024-25.  

Coppin State
Saturday, Nov. 9 * Baltimore, MD

Series History: Rider, 4-0
Winning Streak: Rider, 4
Last Meeting: Rider, 81-69 (Nov. 12, 2021; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2023-24 Record: 2-27 (1-13 MEAC)
Quickly: Rider has won all four meetings all-time with the Eagles, including wins in the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons, with the Nov. 5, 2019 meeting coming in Baltimore. The first meeting came in 2002-03.

Navy
Tuesday, Nov. 12 * Annapolis, MD

Series History: First Meeting
Winning Streak: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
2023-24 Record: 13-18 (8-10 Patriot League)
Quickly: Somewhat surprisingly, the Broncs and Midshipmen have never met on the hardwood. Navy is coming off an 8-10 league mark and a Patriot League Quarterfinal appearance a year ago.  

Iowa
Tuesday, Nov. 19 * Iowa City, IA

Series History: Iowa, 1-0
Winning Streak: Iowa, 1
Last Meeting: Iowa, 104-71 (Dec. 22, 1986; Iowa City, IA)
2023-24 Record: 19-15 (10-10 Big 10)
Quickly: The Broncs face a familiar face from the not-so-distant past in former Siena and current Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffrey when Rider travels to the University of Iowa. The Hawkeyes and Broncs will square off for just the second time, with the first coming in Iowa City in December 1986.

Bucknell
Saturday, Nov. 23 * Lewisburg, PA

Series History: Bucknell, 31-26
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 85-79 (Nov. 24, 2021; Riviera Maya, Mexico)
2023-24 Record: 14-19 (10-8 Patriot League)
Quickly: The Broncs and Bison renew one of the longer rivalries in Rider program history. The two teams met twice in the 2021-22 season, including a Bucknell win in Lewisburg on Nov. 17, 2021, and a Rider win a week later on Nov. 24, 2021, in Riviera Maya, Mexico, as part of the Cancun Challenge. Former Bronc Matt Griffin, who played 66 games in the cranberry in 2007-08 and 2008-09, joined his brother, Head Coach John Griffin, a former Rider assistant coach, on the Bison bench prior to last season. 

Villanova
Wednesday, Nov. 27 * Villanova, PA

Series History: Villanova, 23-2 (or maybe 24-1)
Winning Streak: Villanova, 15 (or maybe 17)
Last Meeting: Villanova, 88-67 (Dec. 21, 2013; Villanova, PA)
2023-24 Record: 18-16 (10-10 Big East)
Quickly: The Broncs and Wildcats will meet for the first time since December 2013. Villanova has won at least 15 straight against Rider, and maybe 17, 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.   

Delaware
Saturday, Nov. 30 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Delaware, 33-31
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 88-85 (OT) (Dec. 20, 2023; Newark, DE)
2023-24 Record: 19-14 (10-8 CAA)
Quickly: Rider and Delaware renew their rivalry, which has featured barnburners in each of the last two seasons. A Jameer Nelson Jr. tip-in with 3.6 seconds left decided the 2022-23 meeting at Alumni Gym, before Allen Powell went coast-to-coast for a go-ahead, up-and-under reverse lay-up with 42 seconds left and made two more clutch free throws with a second remaining in overtime as the Broncs won the 2023-24 meeting in Newark. 2024-25 will be the Blue Hens' final season in the Coastal Athletic Association, before departing for Conference USA in 2025-26. 

Fairfield
Wednesday, Dec. 4 * Fairfield, CT
Friday, Feb. 21 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Fairfield leads, 39-36
Winning Streak: Fairfield, 2
Last Meeting: Fairfield, 84-67 (Feb. 8, 2024; Fairfield, CT)
2023-24 Record: 25-12 (14-6 MAAC)
Quickly: Fairfield swept last year's season series with an 88-81 victory on Dec. 3 at Alumni Gym, before takin an 84-67 victory on Feb. 8 in Fairfield. The sweep came a year after Allen Powell's heroics led to a Rider sweep of the Stags.

Quinnipiac
Friday, Dec. 6 * Alumni Gym
Saturday, Jan. 25 * Hamden, CT

Series History: Rider leads, 14-11
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 88-78 (Feb. 25, 2024; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2023-24 Record: 24-10 (15-5 MAAC)
Quickly: After dominating the early portion of the series with Quinnipiac, 12-2, the Broncs had fallen to the Bobcats in nine of the next 10, including three overtime losses in the span. But the Broncs snapped the skid on the strength of Mervin James' 30-point performance in an 88-78 victory over the first-place Bobcats last Feb. 25. Quinnipiac went on to win the 2023-24 MAAC Regular Season Championship, but fell to eventual MAAC Tournament Champion Saint Peter's in the semifinals. Quinnipiac returns All-MAAC Second Team selections Amarri Tice and Savion Lewis.     

Stony Brook
Saturday, Dec. 14 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Tied, 3-3
Winning Streak: Stony Brook, 3
Last Meeting: Stony Brook, 55-48 (Nov. 20, 2023; Stony Brook, NY)
2023-24 Record: 20-15 (10-8 CAA)
Quickly: Stony Brook has won the last three meetings, including a 55-48 win last season on Long Island. The Broncs won three-straight games to open the series in February 1971 and January of both 2000 and 2001.

North Carolina State
Monday, Dec. 16 * Raleigh, NC

Series History: NC State, 2-0
Winning Streak: NC State, 2-0
Last Meeting: NC State, 99-71 (Dec. 28, 2016; Raleigh, NC)
2023-24 Record: 26-15 (9-11 ACC)
Quickly: The Broncs face NC State for the third time in the series, last visiting Raleigh in December 2016. The Wolfpack made an improbable run to an ACC Tournament Championship and a trip to the Final Four, reeling off nine-straight wins when it mattered most last season.  

Penn
Friday, Dec. 20 * Philadelphia, PA

Series History: Rider, 4-2
Winning Streak: Penn, 1
Last Meeting: Penn, 77-73 (OT) (Dec. 23, 2023; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2023-24 Record: 11-18 (3-11 Ivy League)
Quickly: Rider and Penn renewed their local rivalry last season, with the Quakers taking a 77-73 overtime victory at Alumni Gym. Four of the six meetings since the series' inception in January 2004 have gone to overtime and another was decided by one point in regulation. Rider visits The Palestra for the first time since November 18, 2014.

Manhattan
Friday, Jan. 5 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 39-26
Winning Streak: Rider, 5
Last Meeting: Rider, 104-62 (Feb. 18, 2024; Riverdale, NY)
2023-24 Record: 7-23 (4-16 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs have won five straight against Manhattan, including a program-record 76.4 percent shooting from the field in a 104-62 victory last Feb. 18 at Draddy Gym. The Jaspers are led by second-year Head Coach John Gallagher. 

Canisius
Friday, Jan. 10 * Buffalo, NY
Thursday, Mar. 6 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 42-17
Winning Streak: Rider, 2
Last Meeting: Rider, 65-61 (Mar. 3, 2024; Buffalo, NY)
2023-24 Record: 14-18 (8-12 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs swept the Griffs in last year's season series, takin the Jan. 7 meeting in overtime and winning on Mar. 3 in Buffalo by four. 10 of the last 13 meetings between the Broncs and Griffs have been decided by four points or less. However, the Griffs will have a new Head Coach in 2024-25 as former Boston College, Kent State, TCU and Ohio Head Coach Jim Christian takes over in Buffalo.
  
Niagara
Sunday, Jan. 12 * Niagara University, NY
Sunday, Mar. 8 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 32-26
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 71-61 (Mar. 1, 2024; Niagara University, NY)
2023-24 Record: 16-16 (11-9 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs and Purple Eagles have split in each of the last two seasons. Last year, Niagara took a 78-74 victory on Jan. 19 at Alumni Gym, before the Broncs got even with a 71-61 victory on Mar. 1 in Western New York.  

Mount St. Mary's
Thursday, Jan. 16 * Alumni Gym
Sunday, Feb. 23 * Emmitsburg, MD

Series History: Rider leads, 16-13
Winning Streak: Rider, 2
Last Meeting: Rider, 61-57 (Feb. 16, 2024; Emmitsburg, MD)
2023-24 Record: 13-19 (9-11 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider swept The Mount last season, with the second win sparking a seven-game winning streak to close the Broncs' regular season. The Mountaineers have new leadership this season, with former UNC Greensboro Head Coach Donny Lind taking over for Dan Engelstad, who departed for the top assistant position at Syracuse.

Marist
Saturday, Jan. 18 * Poughkeepsie, NY

Series History: Rider leads, 42-28
Winning Streak: Marist, 2
Last Meeting: Marist, 77-62 (Feb. 10, 2024; Poughkeepsie, NY)
2023-24 Record: 18-13 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs have dominated the series with the Red Foxes over the last 16 years to the tune of a 27-7 mark against Marist dating back to the 2007-08 season. However, the Red Foxes swept last year's season series with a pair of double-digit victories.

Iona
Thursday, Jan. 23 * Alumni Gym
Friday, Feb. 14 * New Rochelle, NY

Series History: Iona leads, 47-29
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 78-75 (Feb. 23, 2024; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2023-24 Record: 16-17 (10-10 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider and Iona split last season's regular-season series, with each team winning on its home court. A year after replacing 12-of-13 scholarship players in his first season at Iona, second-year Head Coach Tobin Anderson has a full roster of newcomers entering 2024-25.

Saint Peter's
Friday, Jan. 31 * Alumni Gym
Sunday, Feb. 16 * Jersey City, NJ

Series History: Rider leads, 44-36
Winning Streak: Saint Peter's, 1
Last Meeting: Saint Peter's, 50-48 (Mar. 14, 2024; Atlantic City, NJ – MAAC Quarterfinals)
2023-24 Record: 20-15 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider swept the regular-season series from Saint Peter's for the second-straight season, but also fell to the Peacocks in the MAAC Quarterfinals for the second time in as many years. Following their two-point victory over the Broncs, Saint Peter's won twice more in the tournament to earn the league's NCAA Tournament berth for the second time in three years. 

Merrimack
Sunday, Feb. 2 * Alumni Gym
Friday, Feb. 28 * North Andover, MA

Series History: First Meeting
Winning Streak: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
2023-24 Record: 21-12 (13-3 NEC)
Quickly: Rider and Merrimack will meet for the first times this season. The Warriors joined the Division I ranks in 2019-20 and immediately became a force in the Northeast Conference, winning at least a share of the league's regular-season title in three of their five seasons. The Warriors also won the 2023 Northeast Conference Tournament. However, Merrimack was in the final year of its transition to Division I and ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. The Tobin Anderson-led Fairleigh Dickinson Knights went to the tournament in the Warriors' place and, after a win in the First Four, pulled the second-ever upset by a No. 16 seed over a No. 1 when the Knights defeated Purdue.

Sacred Heart
Thursday, Feb. 6 * Fairfield, CT

Series History: Rider leads, 2-0
Winning Streak: Rider, 2
Last Meeting: Rider, 85-63 (Nov. 27, 2000; Fairfield, CT)
2023-24 Record: 16-16 (10-6 NEC)
Quickly: Rider faces first-year MAAC member Sacred Heart just once in the Pioneers' initial year in the conference – a Feb. 6 road contest in Fairfield. The Broncs and Pioneers met in each of Sacred Heart's first two years in Division I, with the Broncs winning both, including an 85-63 victory in the most-recent meeting on the Pioneers' home court. 

Siena
Saturday, Feb. 8 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Siena leads, 39-21
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 91-50 (Feb. 2, 2024; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2023-24 Record: 4-28 (3-17 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs and Saints split for the third-straight season last year, with each team winning on its home court. Siena escaped with a 67-65 win at home on Dec. 1, before Rider righted the ship with a 91-50 victory at Alumni Gym on Feb. 2. Siena hired former Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara to lead the program this past Spring.