RIVERDALE, NY – Zion Cruz (Trenton, NJ/Donda [DePaul/Pratt CC]) led six Broncs in double figures with 22 points and Flash Burton (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) posted his first-career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 11 assists, but the Rider University men's basketball team's late comeback bid fell short at Manhattan, 95-90, Friday night at Draddy Gymnasium. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 2-18 (1-10 MAAC), while the Jaspers now 9-14 (5-7 MAAC).

Both teams were hot from the floor in the first half, with Manhattan taking a 45-43 lead into the break despite the Broncs shooting 57.1 percent (16-28) to the Jaspers' 50.0 percent (16-32). The difference came in Manhattan's 10-of-20 effort from beyond the arc to Rider's 5-of-8 (62.5%) half. The half featured three lead changes and five ties. After the Broncs scored the game's first four points, Manhattan's Devin Dinkins hit three of his four first-half three-pointers to take a 9-6 advantage.

The Jaspers pushed their lead to five, 15-10, before the Broncs later used an 8-0 run to retake a 28-23 advantage, with Cruz capping the run with a step-back jumper at the 6:33 mark. After a Manhattan bucket, Cruz hit a three to push the lead to its largest point, 31-25, with 5:45 left in the half. The Jaspers tied the game, 34-34, at the 3:29 mark with a 9-3 spurt on three three-pointers and, after Rider retook the lead on four-straight free throws, Manhattan closed the half with 10 of the final 15 points, including Jaden Winston's driving finish to beat the halftime buzzer and give the Jaspers the advantage after 20 minutes. Daniel Helterhoff (Cologne, Germany/Urspringschule [USC Upstate]) led the Broncs with 12 first-half points, while Cruz added 10.   

The Broncs absorbed the Jaspers' punch to open the second half, erasing a seven-point deficit with a 12-4 run, capped by Burton's transition drive at the 14:12 mark to take a 57-56 lead. After a transition dunk from Antwan Wilson (Salisbury, MD/Wicomico [UMES/Weatherford]) made it 65-65 midway through the second half, Manhattan opened a double-digit lead with 18 of the next 26 points. But the Broncs wouldn't go down easy. Still down eight, 89-81, with just over two minutes remaining, the Broncs used a 9-2 run, sparked by a Cruz three-point play, to cut the deficit to one.

Two Manhattan free throws made it a 93-90 Jaspers lead with nine seconds left. But the Broncs turned it over on their next possession and Manhattan extended its lead to two possessions at the free-throw line.

Notes
- Rider leads the all-time series with Manhattan, 39-29. The Jaspers have won the last three meetings, including a sweep of this season's series.  
- Six Broncs scored in double figures for the first time since last Feb. 28 at Merrimack.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider shot 53.3 percent (32-60) from the floor, its highest percentage of the season vs. a Division I opponent (55.2 percent vs. Eastern, Nov. 15).
- Rider had a season-high 23 assists, eclipsing 20 assists for the second time this season and the second time in the last three games (20, Jan. 19 vs. Sacred Heart).
- Cruz was 9-of-20 from the floor, including 3-of-8 from long range, and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line for 22 points. He added five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
- Burton scored 15 points on 3-of-11 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. He added 11 assists, besting his previous career high of eight, established two games ago vs. Sacred Heart (Jan. 19). He also added three steals and a block.
- Burton's 11 assists are the most by a Bronc since Dwight Murray Jr. had 11 on Jan. 9, 2022, at Marist.  
- Caleb Smith (Atlanta, GA/Fredrick Douglass [Garden City CC]) added a career-high 18 points to go along with a game-high seven rebounds. He was 6-of-7 from the floor, including a conversion on his only three-point attempt, and 5-of-8 from the free-throw line.
- Helterhoff scored a season-high 12 points, all in the first half, on 5-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line. He was making his first start as a Bronc.
- Wilson and Shemani Fuller (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes [Clark Atlanta]) each added 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting off the bench. Wilson added three assists, while Fuller grabbed five rebounds.
- For the game, the Broncs outshot the Jaspers, 53.3 percent (32-60) to 51.7 percent (30-58) from the floor.
- Manhattan outshot the Broncs, 43.8 percent (14-32) to 37.6 percent (6-16) from long range and 95.5 percent (21-22) to 66.7 percent (20-30) from the free-throw line.
- Rider took a 33-29 edge on the glass, including a 13-9 advantage in offensive rebounds.
- Rider outscored Manhattan, 50-28, in the paint and 15-9 on second chances.
- Manhattan led for 28:57 of game time to the Broncs' 8:04 with a lead.

Up Next
The Broncs return to MAAC play Sunday, when they play host to Saint Peter's. Opening tip from Alumni Gym is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.