Bison senior guard Kevin Bettencourt made a jumper with 1.2 seconds left to give Bucknell a 55-54 lead, leading the defending Patriot League champions to victory at Rider Friday.  Bettencourt made a foul shot with 0.6 seconds left for the final score and finished with nine points, six in the second half

Rider sophomore Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) hit two free throws with seven seconds left to put the Broncs (0-1) up 54-53. Thompson made five of seven free throws and led all scorers with 17 points. “I think we were more anxious than nervous,” said Thompson.  “The veterans have been in other big games. We were ready tonight.” Thompson made six of seven field goal attempts.

“In that hostile environment it was just a great college basketball game,” said Bucknell head coach Pat Flannery.  Rider’s Alumni Gymnasium was overflowing, with more than 1,650 fans for the season opener.

Rider led 52-48 with 2:40 remaining before Bucknell scored the next five points, including a three–pointer by John Griffin, to give the Bison a 53-52 lead with 15 seconds left. It was the tenth lead change of the game and the first of the second half. Griffin scored six points off the Bucknell bench, all in the second half.

“They are such a good defensive team, but we got good looks,” said Dempsey. “We were just a shot or two away. We had a couple shots that didn’t go in, and Bettencourt makes his shot.  There’s a fine line there.”

Rider senior Edwin Muniz (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) compiled a ‘double-double’ with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. “I’m proud of the effort we gave,” said Muniz. “We worked real hard, and just came up short. We knew they were a good team, no way we were intimated by them. We respected them and the success they had in the NCAAs last year, but that was last year, this is this year.”

Bucknell center Chris McNaughton led the Bison with 14 points and forward Chris Lee added 13 points with eight rebounds and four assists.

Bucknell led 22-21 before Rider went on an 8-2 run to finish the first half with a 29-24 lead.  Thompson and Muniz each had three points in that run.

Bettencourt’s shot spoiled coach Tommy Dempsey’s debut. “We were in the right defense, we just didn’t execute it,” Dempsey said of the game-winning shot. “We’ll slide the tape in and go back to work tomorrow,” said Dempsey.  “The schedule is set up to prepare us for the league, and a game like tonight does that.”

Rider plays at Drexel November 21.

-RU-