RICHMOND, VA – Shemani Fuller (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes [Clark Atlanta]) led the Rider University men's basketball team with a season-high 15 points, but the Broncs fell in their non-conference finale at VCU, 100-79, Monday night at the Siegel Center. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 1-10, while the Rams are now 9-4.

The Broncs scored the first four points of the game on jumpers from Zion Cruz (Trenton, NJ/Donda [DePaul/Pratt CC]) and Flash Burton (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) and took a 10-7 lead on four-straight points from Caleb Smith (Atlanta, GA/Fredrick Douglass [Garden City CC]). A 7-0 VCU lead would give the Rams the lead for good, with the advantage swelling to as many as 13 with 1:27 left in the period.

The Broncs outscored the Rams, 7-3 over the final 1:06 to cut the deficit to 45-36 at the half. Daniel Helterhoff (Cologne, Germany/Urspringschule [USC Upstate]) and Cruz knocked down jumpers in the stretch, which was capped off by a second-chance three-point play from Davis Bynum (O'Fallon, IL/East St. Louis [Cal St. Fullerton]). Smith led the Broncs with eight points in the half, while Bynum and Cruz added seven apiece.

The Broncs kept it a single-digit game in the opening minutes of the second, before the Rams blew the game open with an 18-2 run. Rider could draw to within no closer than 20 the rest of the way, with the VCU lead growing to as many as 28 with 4:18 to play.

Quotes & Notes
"I thought we did some good things in the first half. We've just got to find a way at times to keep our composure and execute better when we're close in the games. But we're trending in the right way" – Rider Head Coach Kevin Baggett

- Rider and VCU met for just the second time, both in Richmond. The Rams took the inaugural meeting on Dec. 30, 2018, 90-79.
- The Broncs registered 79 points and 14 assists, most on the season against Division I opponents (86 points, 15 assists vs. Division III Eastern University, Nov. 15).

Broncs by the Numbers
- Fuller scored in double figures for the second-straight games, following up a 10-point performance at Delaware with 15 points on 6-of-10 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line vs. VCU. He also led the Broncs with six rebounds and two blocked shots.
- Cruz added 13 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including 1-for-3 from long range. He also dished out a team-high six assists, most by a Bronc this season.
- Smith finished with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a conversion on his only three-point attempt. He added a team-high three steals and four rebounds.
- Bynum added nine points on 4-of-8 from the floor and 1-for-3 from the free-throw line. He matched Fuller's team-high six rebounds and blocked a shot.
- Burton also scored nine points and added four assists and two rebounds.
- Helterhoff and Cole McCabe (Miami Beach, FL/Miami Country Day/IMG Academy) added five points and two rebounds apiece off the bench.
- The Broncs had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, dishing out 14 assists to 11 turnovers.
- For the game, the Rams outshot the Broncs, 58.1 percent (36-62) to 45.3 percent (29-64) from the floor, including a 47.8 percent (11-23) to 25.0 percent (3-12) advantage from long range.
- VCU also edged Rider from the free-throw line, 77.3 percent (17-22) to 72.0 percent (18-25).
- The Rams took a 35-33 edge on the glass. However, Rider took a 14-10 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to a 19-16 edge in second-chance points.
- Rider led for 4:27 of game time to the Rams' 33:07 with a lead.

Up Next
The Broncs begins MAAC play in earnest Monday, Dec. 29, when they play host to Manhattan. Tip from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m.