Niagara to Host Rider on Sunday, Jan. 24 on MSG Network
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference continues its 2009-10 MAAC Basketball Television Schedule with Niagara University hosting Rider University on Sunday, January 24. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m. at the Gallagher Center, and it will air live on the MSG Network.
Rider is currently 10-11 overall and 3-6 in the MAAC. The Broncs are led senior guard Ryan Thompson, who is registering 14.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and junior guard Justin Robinson, who is averaging 13.0 points and 3.5 boards an outing.
Niagara is now 11-10 overall and 4-5 in league play. The Purple Eagles are led by senior guard Tyrone Lewis, who is averaging a league-best 17.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and senior guard/forward Bilal Benn, who is registering 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds a night.
In their last matchup, Benn hit a turnaround jumper in the paint with 1:15 left in double overtime, then made a steal with two seconds remaining to lift Niagara to a 93-89 victory against Rider in the semifinals of the 2009 Citizens Bank MAAC Men's Basketball Championship. Rider had the lead after Novar Gadson broke away for a dunk with 17 seconds to play in regulation. But Lewis banked in a 3-pointer from about 30 feet over two defenders from that tied the game at 71-all with 1.7 seconds to go. Benn scored 20 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the Purple Eagles. Thompson had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Broncs, who also got 20 points and 12 rebounds from Mike Ringgold.