GAME 5 – Thursday, November 20, 2025
Rider Broncs (1-3) vs. #2 Houston Cougars (4-0)
Location: Houston, TX – Fertitta Center
Tip: 8 p.m. (CT)/9 p.m. (ET)
Live Video – TNT, TruTV and HBO Max
Live Stats – UHCougars.com
X Updates – Twitter.com/RiderMBB
 
What You Need To Know
- Rider wraps up a two-game Texas road trip Thursday at No. 2 Houston. The Broncs and Cougars will meet for the first time. 
- Rider dropped the first game of the road trip at the University of Texas. Flash Burton led the Broncs with 16 points.
- The Broncs earned a win in their home opener Saturday against Division III Eastern University. RU previously fell in consecutive road match-ups with Power 4 opponents at Virginia (87-53, Nov. 3) and Rutgers (81-53, Nov. 5).
- Four Broncs scored in double figures vs. Eastern, led by 21 from Flash Burton. 
- Caleb Smith posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds at Rutgers.
- Flash Burton filled the stat sheet at Virginia, going for 17 points and six boards.
- The Broncs return four players from last year's squad, including starters Zion Cruz and Flash Burton.
- Cruz was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team after averaging 10.1 ppg. in 2024-25. He shot 35.6 percent from beyond the three-point arc, best on the team among those with more than 1.0 three-point field goal made per game and 15th in the MAAC. He scored in double figures 16 times.
- Burton averaged 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, posting a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio (15th-MAAC). He started 24 of 30 games played in 2024-25.
- Also back is Cole McCabe, who played in 26 games, including one start, as a true freshman. Sophomore reserve Maurizio D'Alessandro has also returned.
- Rider also welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad.
- The Broncs were picked 10th (13 teams) in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- 14th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 207-205 record. Baggett won MAAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Only John Carpenter (292) has more head coaching wins at Rider.