FAIRFIELD, CT – Four Broncs scored in double figures and the Rider University men's basketball shot 50.8 percent from the floor, but fell at Sacred Heart, 89-77, Thursday night at Sacred Heart. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 8-15 (4-8 MAAC), while the Pioneers improve to 10-12 (6-5 MAAC).

After the Broncs scored the first bucket of the game, Sacred Heart went on a 13-0 run to create double-digit separation. Rider cut the deficit to six on four occasions in the first half, the last coming on a Tank Byard (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City [Alcorn State]) three-point play with 29 seconds left in the period. Sacred Heart would score to close the period with a 44-36 advantage. Byard led the Broncs with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and six rebounds in the half, while Flash Burton (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) added 10 points. Rider outshot Sacred Heart, 56.0 percent (14-25) to 43.8 percent (14-32) in the first half, but was plagued by 10 turnovers, resulting in a 17-0 Pioneers margin in points off turnovers.

The Broncs would protect the basketball in the second half, not committing a single turnover. T.J. Weeks Jr. (Warwick, RI/Bishop Hendricken Catholic [UMass]) connected on a three-pointer to open the second-half scoring and cut the deficit to five, but Sacred Heart countered with a 10-2 run. Rider again got to within six, 71-65, on an Ingraham post move with 7:26 remaining. But the Pioneers again had the answer with nine-straight to put the game out of reach.  

Notes
- Rider and Sacred Heart met for just the third time, with the first two coming in the Pioneers' first two seasons at Division I. The Broncs now lead the series, 2-1.
- All 15 Broncs on the roster played in the same game for the first time this season, with 11 entering the scoring column.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Ingraham scored 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and added three blocks and two rebounds. The three blocks push him to 59 for his Rider career, good for 22^nd in program history, one behind Tyere Marshall (60) for 21^st.   
- Weeks Jr. also scored 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-7 from long range. He added five rebounds and four assists.
- Burton went for 10 points on 3-of-8 from the floor (1-4 3ptFG) and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. He led the Broncs with six rebounds and five assists.
- Byard finished the game with 11 points on 5-of-8 from the floor and a season-high eight rebounds.
- Zion Cruz (Trenton, NJ/Donda [DePaul/Pratt CC]) added eight points on 4-of-7 from the floor.
- Jay Alvarez (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area [Houston Christian]) chipped in with six points and five rebounds.
- The Broncs outshot Sacred Heart, 50.8 percent (32-63) to 46.0 percent (29-63) from the floor.
- The Pioneers took a 41.4 percent (12-29) to 37.5 percent (6-16) edge from beyond the three-point arc.
- Sacred Heart made 79.2 percent (19-24) of its free throws to the Broncs' 53.8 percent (7-13).
- The Pioneers took a 38-32 rebounding advantage, including an 11-7 edge on the offensive glass.
- Sacred Heart outscored Rider, 13-6, in second-chance points and 17-9 in points off turnovers.
- Rider's bench outscored that of Sacred Heart, 37-18, and the Broncs took advantages of 19-16 on fast breaks and 38-34 in the paint.
- Sacred Heart led for 39:11 of game time to the Broncs' 32 seconds with the lead.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Saturday night, when they play host to Siena. Opening tip from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.