LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University Men's Basketball Head Coach
Kevin Baggett has announced his team's 2019-20 non-conference schedule. The Broncs are currently scheduled to play a pair of home games against Bucknell (Dec. 3) and LIU (Dec. 14), along with a preseason exhibition game against Slippery Rock on Nov. 2. Also highlighting the schedule are trips to Arizona State, Temple and Wisconsin. The Broncs open the year with road games at Coppin State (Nov. 5) and Delaware State (Nov. 8).
The 2020 MAAC Basketball Championships have a new home at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the first time. The 2020 MAAC Basketball Championships will run from March 10-14. Information on fan hotels and pricing for the 2020 MAAC Tournament to support the Broncs will be announced in September.
**This season, Rider basketball fans can take their ticket on gameday, either before or after the game, to the Rider Pub in the Bart Luedeke Center for a 10% discount on their food purchase, courtesy of Gourmet Dining. The recently renovated Rider Pub will be a full service restaurant and still located in the Bart Luedeke Center.**
Coppin State
Tuesday, Nov. 5 * Baltimore, MD
Series History: Rider, 2-0
Winning Streak: Rider, 2
Last Meeting: Rider, 87-67 (Nov. 19, 2018; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2018-19 Record: 8-25 (7-9 MEAC)
2018-19 Postseason: MEAC Quarterfinals
Quickly: The Broncs defeated the Eagles, 87-67, last Nov. 19 at Alumni Gym. Justin Steers led Coppin State with 16 points, but will be sitting on the opposite bench this year, having transferred to Rider. A 2019 MEAC All-Rookie Team selection, Steers will sit out this year for the Broncs. The Eagles' top returner is All-MEAC Second Team selection Dejuan Clayton, who averaged 14.5 points and 3.8 assists per game last year.
Delaware State
Friday, Nov. 8 * Dover, DE
Series History: Delaware State, 2-0
Winning Streak: Delaware State, 2
Last Meeting: Delaware State, 70-60 (Jan. 6, 1982; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2018-19 Record: 6-25 (2-14 MEAC)
2018-19 Postseason: MEAC Quarterfinals
Quickly: The Hornets and Broncs have met twice in the two programs' histories – both coming in the 1981-82 season. Delaware State won both meetings. The Hornets lost their two top scorers from a year ago in Kevin Larkin (16.0 ppg., 8.8 rpg.) and Saleik Edwards (10.5 ppg.), but return junior point guard Pinky Wiley, who averaged 9.5 points, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals in 2018-19.
Arizona State – Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament Presented By Citi
Sunday, Nov. 17 * Tempe, AZ
Series History: First Meeting
Winning Streak: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2018-19 Record: 23-11 (12-6 Pac-12)
2018-19 Postseason: Pac-12 Tournament Semifinals; NCAA Tournament First Round
Quickly: Arizona State defeated St. John's in the NCAA Tournament First Four before Head Coach Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils fell to his former team, Buffalo, in the First Round. The Sun Devils will have to replace a pair of key contributors in Luguentz Dort (16.1 ppg., signed two-way deal with Oklahoma City Thunder) and Zylan Cheatham (12.1 ppg., 10.3 rpg., graduated), but return starters Remy Martin (12.9 ppg., 5.0 apg.), Rob Edwards (11.1 ppg.) and Romello White (8.7 ppg., 5.2 rpg.).
Massachusetts – Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament Presented By Citi
Wednesday, Nov. 20 * Amherst, MA
Series History: Massachusetts, 9-0
Winning Streak: Massachusetts, 9
Last Meeting: Massachusetts, 78-67 (Dec. 22, 2016; Amherst, MA)
2018-19 Record: 11-21 (4-14 Atlantic 10)
2018-19 Postseason: Atlantic 10 Championship First Round
Quickly: Rider and Massachusetts last played in the 2016-17 season, when the Minutemen took a 78-67 win at the Mullins Center as part of the Gotham Classic. The Minutemen have seen massive turnover to their roster, with nine of 16 letter winners from 2018-19 departing. However, UMass returns a pair of starters in Carl Pierre (11.8 ppg., .381 3ptFG%) and Keon Clergeot (7.5 ppg., .383 3ptFG%).
Columbia – Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament Presented By Citi
Saturday, Nov. 23 * Uncasville, CT
Series History: Rider, 2-1
Winning Streak: Rider, 2
Last Meeting: Rider, 77-73 (Jan. 15, 1992; New York, NY)
2018-19 Record: 10-18 (5-13 Ivy League)
2018-19 Postseason: None
Quickly: Rider and Columbia will meet for the first time since the 1991-92 season, when the Broncs won their second-straight under Kevin Bannon against the Lions, 77-73. Columbia Head Coach Jim Engles was an assistant at Rider under current Athletic Director
Don Harnum for six years. The Lions return four starters, including three who averaged in double-figures scoring.
**Possible Opponent**
Central Connecticut – Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament Presented By Citi
Sunday, Nov. 24 * Uncasville, CT
Series History: Rider, 8-1
Winning Streak: Rider, 6
Last Meeting: Rider, 69-56 (Dec. 3, 2014; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2018-19 Record: 11-20 (5-13 NEC)
2018-19 Postseason: None
Quickly: Rider could take on another familiar face in former assistant coach
Donyell Marshall's Central Connecticut Blue Devils. The last time Rider faced CCSU, Marshall was on the Broncs' bench for a 69-56 Rider victory at Alumni Gym. CCSU loses much of its production from a year ago, with three starters and five of its top seven scorers having departed. Back are Jamir Coleman (12.1 ppg., 6.2 rpg.) and Ian Krishnan (12.0 ppg.).
**Possible Opponent**
Vermont – Air Force Reserve Tip-Off Tournament Presented By Citi
Sunday, Nov. 24 * Uncasville, CT
Series History: First Meeting
Winning Streak: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2018-19 Record: 27-7 (14-2 America East)
2018-19 Postseason: America East Champions, NCAA Tournament First Round
Quickly: The Broncs and Catamounts will meet for the first time in the two programs' histories. 2019 America East Player of the Year Anthony Lamb (21.2 ppg., 7.8 rpg.) leads a cast of returners who pushed Vermont to an America East Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth last year. The Catamounts return seven of their top eight scorers from the 27-win team of a year ago.
Bucknell
Tuesday, Dec. 3 * Lawrenceville, NJ
Series History: Bucknell, 30-24
Winning Streak: Bucknell, 2
Last Meeting: Bucknell, 56-54 (Nov. 18, 2005; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2018-19 Record: 21-12 (13-5 Patriot League)
2018-19 Postseason: Patriot League Championship Game
Quickly: Rider and Bucknell will meet for the first time since 2005-06. The Bison fell in the Patriot League Championship last year and lost their top two contributors in Kimbal Mackenzie (17.6 ppg.) and Nate Sestina (15.8 ppg., 8.5 rpg.). Back are starters Bruce Moore (9.6 ppg., 4.8 rpg.), Avi Toomer (8.7 ppg.) and Jimmy Sotos (8.2 ppg., 6.1 apg.). A familiar name will debut for the Bison this year in Xander Rice, the son of Monmouth Head Coach King Rice.
LIU
Saturday, Dec. 14 * Lawrenceville, NJ
Series History: Rider, 19-17
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 63-59 (Dec. 29, 2005; Charleston, SC)
2018-19 Record: 16-16 (9-9 NEC)
2018-19 Postseason: NEC Semifinals
Quickly: Rider will face LIU, which will compete for the first time this year as a unified athletic department between the University's Brooklyn and CW Post campuses, for the first time since the 2005-06 season. The Broncs beat the then-Blackbirds at the Charleston Holiday Classic on Dec. 29, 2005. When including a 3-0 mark against CW Post, Rider owns a 22-17 lead in the all-time series against the two programs.
Temple
Saturday, Dec. 21 * Philadelphia, PA
Series History: Temple, 13-1
Winning Streak: Temple, 6
Last Meeting: Temple, 65-62 (Nov. 16, 1995; Philadelphia, PA)
2018-19 Record: 23-10 (13-5 American)
2018-19 Postseason: AAC Quarterfinals; NCAA Tournament First Round
Quickly: Rider and Temple will meet for the first time since 1995-96. The Broncs' lone win in the series came in 1974-75. Temple returns four starters, but will have to replace Shizz Alston, Jr., who averaged a team-best 19.7 points and 5.0 assists per game last year.
Wisconsin
Tuesday, Dec. 31 * Madison, WI
Series History: First Meeting
Winning Streak: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
2018-19 Record: 23-11 (14-6 Big 10)
2018-19 Postseason: Big 10 Semifinals; NCAA Tournament First Round
Quickly: Rider and Wisconsin have never met on the hardwood. The Badgers' top scorer and rebounder, Ethan Happ (17.3 ppg., 10.1 rpg.), has exhausted his eligibility, but Wisconsin returns three starters – D'Mitrik Trice (11.6 ppg.), Brad Davison (10.5 ppg.) and Nate Reuvers (7.9 ppg.).