GAME 15 – Friday, January 10, 2025
Rider Broncs (4-10, 0-3 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins (0-14, 0-3 MAAC)
Location: Buffalo, NY – Koessler Athletic Center
Tip: 7 p.m.
Live Video – ESPN+
International Stream – MAAC.TV
Live Stats – GoGriffs.com
X (Formerly Twitter) – Twitter.com/RiderMBB
 
What You Need To Know
- Rider returns to action Friday, when they begin the MAAC's Western New York weekend at Canisius.    
- After opening the season at 4-2, the Rider is looking to snap an eight-game losing skid, most recently falling in an 80-79 heartbreaker, Jan. 5 vs. Manhattan.
- Jay Alvarez led Rider for the second-straight game with a season-high 23 points.
- T.J. Weeks Jr. has been the Broncs' leading scorer, averaging 13.4 points per game. He's scored in double figures 11 times in 14 games played, including a season-high 21 points at Fairfield.
- The Broncs swept the Griffs in last year's season series, taking 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.
- The Griffs have struggled in new Head Coach Jim Christian's first year in Buffalo, going winless in 14 attempts so far this season. Most recently, they fell at Sacred Heart, 99-82, this past Sunday.
- The Griffs are led by junior Central Michigan transfer Paul McMillan IV, who's averaged 19.7 points per game. Tana Kopa has chipped in with 11.8 ppg., while also averaging more than a steal per contest to lead the team. Jasman Sangha (8.5 ppg.) and Dylan Godfrey (7.1 ppg.) have also made strong scoring contribution, while Cam Palesse has grabbed a team-high 5.2 rebounds per game and Anthony Benard paces Canisius at 3.5 assists per game.
- The Broncs were picked seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Rider has had unique success in three prior occasions being picked seventh, outperforming their projections with the 1st (2017-18), 2nd (2014-15) and 6th (2016-17) seeds in the MAAC Tournament in those seasons.
- 13th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 196-193 record. Baggett won MAAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Only John Carpenter (292) has more wins at Rider.