LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University men's basketball team was topped, 72-66, Friday night. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 3-23 (2-15 MAAC), while the Golden Griffins improve to 9-19 (4-13 MAAC).
 
The Broncs were forced to play from behind early after Canisius opened the game with an 11-0 run. Down 26-15, Zion Cruz (Trenton, NJ/Donda[DePaul/Pratt CC]) hit a three to spark a 6-0 run, and a later three from Flash Burton (Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) cut the deficit to one at 30-26, but the Golden Griffins responded with five-straight points and would lead at the half 40-30.
 
Rider came out of the break hot, with Cruz hitting a layup followed by a three from Burton. After a Canisius bucket, Cruz answered with a bucket and Shemani Fuller (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes [Clark Atlanta]) scored to trim the Griffs' lead to 42-39. Trailing 46-41, Burton scored four-straight to get the Broncs within one, but Canisius responded with five-straight to maintain the advantage. Down 53-47, Rider got a bucket inside from Fuller, a pair of Burton free throws, and a bucket from Cruz to tie the game for the first time since 0-0. Tied 55-55, the Griffs pulled away with a 10-2 run and the Broncs would not get any closer than four the rest of the way.

Quotes & Notes
"Missed free throws, multiple missed layups, and then we give up a three on a breakdown again to the guy in the corner. Those have been the things that have cost us all year. We had a chance to get the lead a couple times, and we missed layups. We missed our free throws, they made theirs. We fought our way back into the game, we tied the game, we had chances to win the game, and sometimes you need to make your own breaks, and that's been our downfall this year. You have to win those games, and we had chances to win, but here we are." – Head Coach Kevin Baggett
 
"This has been one of the hardest years to play basketball for sure, but you just have to be grateful to wake up every day. That's how I look at it, wake up every day, and get better somehow." – Sophomore Guard Flash Burton
 
- Canisius wins the lone game between the programs this season and trims Rider's lead in the all-time series to 43-19.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider shot 39.1% (25-64) from the floor, and 29.4% (5-17) from three, while the Golden Griffins shot 44.2% (23-52) from the field and 35.0% (7-20) from long range.
- Burton scored in double figures for the team-best 19^th time this season, leading all scorers with 22.
- Cruz added 19 points, finishing in double figures for the 15^th time this season.
- Fuller finished with 14 points to score double digits for the sixth time this year.
- Rider had 11 assists on their 25 made baskets, led by three each from Fuller and Caleb Smith (Atlanta, GA/Fredrick Douglass[Pratt CC/Garden City CC]).
- Canisius held a 42-28 edge on the glass, including an 11-10 advantage on the offensive boards. Fuller led Rider with eight rebounds.

Up Next
The Broncs return to MAAC play Sunday, hosting Niagara at 2 p.m.