Visiting Rider University overcame a 21-point deficit to come back and defeat Fairleigh Dickinson University men's basketball, 74-72, at the Rothman Center on Friday evening. The Knights fall to 5-5 on the season, while the Broncs improve to 7-4.
The Knights fell despite senior Andre Harris (Detroit, MI/Robichaud)' (Detroit, MI) sixth 20-point game of the season and fourth double-double of the season as he recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds. Michael Peeples (Detroit, MI/Benedictine) (Detroit, MI) notched his second double-double of the season, giving the Knights 13 points and 11 rebounds. Cameron Tyler (Jamaica, NY/Notre Dame Prep) (Jamaica, NY) had 11 points and six assits.
Fairleigh Dickinson came out of the half with a 36-31 point lead. The Knights were able to extend their lead to double-digits, as they out-scored the Broncs, 20-4, over the next seven minutes. The run included seven points from Harris and six from Eric Hazard (Long Branch, NJ).
The two teams traded baskets over the next four minutes and Harris converted an old-fashioned three-point play to keep the Knights ahead, 63-45, with just under 10 minutes remaining. Over the nine minutes and 48 seconds remaining, the Broncs staged a 28-9 run to close out the game on top.
With 3:20 left to play, Rider came within six, 67-61, on back-to-back baskets by Jason Thompson followed by a three-pointer by Harris Mansell. Terrence Mouton made the second of a pair of free throws to bring Rider within five, 67-62.
Peeples dropped in a lay-up but Mouton answered with a three. Mouton hit another three with 1:42 on the cock to make it a two-point game. He stole the ball on the other end and fed it to Thompson, who tied the game at 70. Tyler was able to net a bucket in the paint to give the Knights a 72-70 edge with 1:21 remaining, but Mansell sealed the game with a three-pointer that made it 73-72.
Rider jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the game, but the Knights scored six-straight, capped with an emphatic dunk from Peeples on a dish from Tyler.
The Knights then took the lead on Bernell Murray's (Stillwater, OK) long-range three, but Rider tied it up at 9 with a three-point play by Mouton.
After three more ties, Harris fed Jordan Ingram (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Carroll) (Philadelphia, PA) the ball behind the arc and then got a steal on the other end, turning it into a lay-in by Sean Baptiste (North Brunswick, NJ/St. Josephs of Metuchen) (North Brunswick, NJ) for a 21-16 lead.
Ryan Thompson dunked with just under seven minutes in the first half to give the Knights only a two-point edge, 21-19, but FDU reeled off eight-straight points to take a double-digit lead as a tip-in from Harris followed back-back three pointers from Baptiste and Tyler.
With just under three minutes remaining in the half, a three-point field goal by Mansell made it a one-point game, 29-28, but Tyler responded with a three of his own and Peeples dunked to make is 33-30.
Peeples shot one from behind the arc with eight seconds on the clock to make it 36-31 going into the half.
“The roof just caved in,” said Head Coach Tom Green. “We made foolish mistakes- we weren't handling the ball well, we didn't defend their ball screens very well at all. We worked on it practice, but they ran ball screens and were wide open. We were rushing shots, not making shots and not playing smart basketball.”
Fairleigh Dickinson out-rebounded Rider, 44-40, and both teams shot 40 percent from the floor.
Jason Thompson led the Broncs, going 8-of19 from the floor to register a double-double with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Mouton had 23 points, connecting on 3-of-6 from the arc, and Mansell added 13 points and nine boards.
The Knights will be back in action at the College of Charleston Tournament on Dec. 29-30.
