GAME 29 – Friday, February 28, 2025
Rider Broncs (10-18, 6-11 MAAC) vs. Merrimack Warriors (15-13, 12-5 MAAC)
Location: North Andover, MA – Lawler Arena
Tip: 7 p.m.
Live Video – ESPN+
International Stream – MAAC.TV
Live Stats – MerrimackAthletics.com
X (Formerly Twitter) – Twitter.com/RiderMBB
 
What You Need To Know
- Rider returns to action Friday, when it travels to Merrimack.
- Rider has dropped three straight - a 66-65 heartbreaker, Feb. 16 at Saint Peter's, a 69-49 home loss to Fairfield on Feb. 21 and a 79-72 setback on Feb. 23 at Mount St. Mary's.
- The Broncs had won two straight in dramatic fashion, with Tank Byard's buzzer beater pushing Rider past Siena on Feb. 8 and a comeback from down 13 points in the second half at Iona in a 74-71 win on Feb. 14.
- T.J. Weeks Jr. has been the Broncs' leading scorer, averaging 13.9 points per game. He's scored in double figures 24 times in 27 games played, including a season-high 23 points vs. Siena.
- Rider is 9-3 this season when holding the opposition to fewer than 72 points. However, all three losses - Merrimack (Feb. 2), Saint Peter's (Feb. 16), Fairfield (Feb. 21) have come in February.
- Merrimack took the first meeting in the two programs' histories on Feb. 2 in Lawrenceville. Rider led for more than 25 minutes of game action, but the Warriors scored the final six points of the game, including a Budd Clark jumper with seven seconds left to give Merrimack the win.
- The Warriors are led by Philadelphia and West Catholic H.S. product Adam "Budd" Clark, who averages 19.9 points, 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Matt Becht (9.8 ppg.) is next in the scoring column, while Devon Savage (8.8 ppg.), Sean Trumper (8.4 ppg., 5.6 rpg.) and Bryan Etumnu (7.9 ppg., 6.2 rpg., 2.4 bpg.) have also made strong contributions.
- The Broncs were picked seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- 13th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 202-201 record. Baggett won MAAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Only John Carpenter (292) has more wins at Rider.