GAME 27 – Sunday, February 22, 2026
Rider Broncs (3-23, 2-15 MAAC) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (7-20, 4-13 MAAC)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ
Tip: 12 p.m.
Live Video – ESPN+
Live Audio – 107.7 The Bronc
International Stream - MAAC.tv
Live Stats – GoBroncs.com
X Updates – Twitter.com/RiderMBB
 
What You Need To Know
- Rider returns to MAAC play Sunday, when it hosts Niagara.
- Last time out, Flash Burton led all scorers with 22, but the Broncs fell at Canisius, 72-66.
- Trailing 70-59 with less than six minutes to play against Saint Peter's, Flash Burton scored 13 of his game-high 25 points over the final stretch, including the game-winning three with 1.9 seconds remaining as the Broncs outscored Saint Peter's 22-8 down the stretch to earn the come-from-behind win. Burton scored 21 in the second half.
- Six Broncs finished in double figures at Manhattan, a first for the Broncs this season. Zion Cruz tied a season-high with 22 to lead Rider to go along with a career-high 18 from Caleb Smith and season high 12 from Daniel Helterhoff. Flash Burton added 15 and Shemani Fuller and Antwan Wilson both dropped 10 points off the bench.
- The Broncs picked up their first Division I win of the season on Jan. 14, defeating Iona, 72-68. Flash Burton led Rider with 21 points, Zion Cruz added 16 and Shemani Fuller added a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.
- Rider hung with Saint Peter's on Jan. 17, surging ahead by six in the second half before the Peacocks finished the game on a 13-2 run to take the 69-58 victory. Flash Burton led Rider with 17 points, while Davis Bynum added a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
- Flash Burton scored a career-high 27 points as the Broncs erased a 14-point second-half deficit at Fairfield (Jan. 9), before falling, 68-62. Zion Cruz added 19.
- Davis Bynum (19 points, 7 rebounds) and Shemani Fuller (18 points, 14 rebounds) both had career-best games vs. Manhattan (Dec. 29). Flash Burton joined the group with 18 points.
- Rider leads the all-time series 34-26, including a season sweep of the Purple Eagles a season ago. The Broncs pulled out a 77-76 victory on Mar. 8 at Alumni Gym on Flash Burton's game-winning three-pointer with 4.3 seconds left in regulation. This will be the lone meeting between the teams this season.
- The Purple Eagels enter Sunday 7-20 overall and 4-13 in league play, falling at Mount St. Mary's last time out. Justin Page, the lone Niagara player averaging double digits, has been out since last playing Feb. 3 against Canisius.
- The Broncs were picked 10th in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- 14th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 209-225 record. Baggett won MAAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
- Only John Carpenter (292) has more head coaching wins at Rider.
- All remaining Rider men's and women's home games this season, along with select road games, will be broadcast on 107.7 The Bronc Retro WRRC2. Tune in online at 1077TheBronc.com, or download our free GooglePlay, Apple, Alexa, Audacy and MyTuner apps and skills. Search and download: WRRC2.