December 7, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men’s College Basketball
Iona College 80, Rider University 59

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.—If it wasn’t tough enough to open the season against four teams who are expected to reach the NCAA tournament this year, Rider began its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schedule against one of the hottest teams in the country. “It was a dominating performance from a team that is playing very well,” said Rider coach Tommy Dempsey. “Tonight let us know how hard we have to work to get where we want to be, where we can be, and where we will be.”

Iona (6-0), the preseason MAAC favorite who won at Iowa State earlier this year when the Cyclones were ranked 23^rd, is currently ranked 14^th among Mid-Major programs. “It was just the wrong time to catch them,” said Dempsey.

Holding a 38-36 lead with 17:34 left to play, Iona out-scored Rider 25-2, seven points by Steve Burtt, to take a 63-38 lead with 10:00 left to play. Burtt, who is currently second in the nation with a 26.6 scoring average, finished with 13 points, including nine in the second half. “We just couldn’t stop them in the second half,” said Dempsey.

Junior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) led the Broncs with 14 points, Rider’s only double-figure scorer.

Rider led 29-28 before Iona out-scored the Broncs 8-2 over the final 3:30 to take a 36-31 lead at halftime.

Rider led 17-9 before Iona’s Ricky Soliver scored eight consecutive points, including his 1,000^th career point, to tie the score at 17-17. Soliver finished with 19 points.

Rider senior Edwin Muniz (Passaic) scored eight points, and now needs 26 points for 1,000.

Rider returns home Saturday afternoon to host Delaware.  “Now we have to get ready for Saturday,” Dempsey added. “It’s only December 7. We have to go back to work.”

-RU-