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Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Welcomes First-Place Merrimack to Alumni Gym Saturday Night

GAME 23 – Saturday, February 7, 2026
Rider Broncs (3-19, 2-11 MAAC) vs. Merrimack Warriors (15-9, 11-2 MAAC)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ – Alumni Gym
Tip: 7 p.m.
Live Video – ESPN+
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 Merrimack.
- Last time out, Marist jumped out to a 48-23 halftime lead on its way to defeating the Broncs 81-52. Flash Burton led Rider with 18 points in the contest.
- 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.
- Merrimack leads the all-time series 2-1 after winning the first meeting between the teams this season, 68-66, in what was the MAAC opener for both teams. Cole McCabe led the Broncs with 12 points in that game. Shemani Fuller and Caleb Smith both had double-digit rebounds for Rider in that game.
- The Warriors currently lead the MAAC standings at 11-2 in conference play. Merrimack enters as winners of their last three and five of their last six games. Kevair Kennedy leads the MAAC at 17.5 points per game, including 19 in the first meeting between the teams this year.
- The Broncs were picked 10th in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- 14th-year Head Coach Kevin Baggett's teams have posted a 209-221 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.
 
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Players Mentioned

Flash Burton

#11 Flash Burton

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Zion Cruz

#0 Zion Cruz

G/F
6' 5"
Senior
Cole McCabe

#21 Cole McCabe

F
6' 8"
Sophomore
Davis Bynum

#7 Davis Bynum

F
6' 9"
Sophomore
Shemani Fuller

#3 Shemani Fuller

F
6' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Daniel Helterhoff

#13 Daniel Helterhoff

F
6' 10"
Senior
Caleb Smith

#2 Caleb Smith

G
6' 5"
Junior
Antwan Wilson

#14 Antwan Wilson

G
6' 5"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Flash Burton

#11 Flash Burton

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Zion Cruz

#0 Zion Cruz

6' 5"
Senior
G/F
Cole McCabe

#21 Cole McCabe

6' 8"
Sophomore
F
Davis Bynum

#7 Davis Bynum

6' 9"
Sophomore
F
Shemani Fuller

#3 Shemani Fuller

6' 9"
Redshirt Senior
F
Daniel Helterhoff

#13 Daniel Helterhoff

6' 10"
Senior
F
Caleb Smith

#2 Caleb Smith

6' 5"
Junior
G
Antwan Wilson

#14 Antwan Wilson

6' 5"
Junior
G