January 7, 2006 - Siena 85 Rider 62
January 7, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Basketball
Siena College 85, Rider University 62
ALBANY, NY--The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game against Siena, played at the Pepsi Arena Saturday. “It was bad from start to finish,” said Rider coach Tommy Dempsey. “That was an ‘A’ performance by Siena, give them credit, but I’m not happy with the way we played today.”
Trailing 49-34, Rider (4-7, 0-3 MAAC) went on a 13-5 run, five points by sophomore Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape), to cut the lead to seven, 54-47 with 10 minutes left in the second half, but the Broncs could get no closer.
Thompson compiled his third straight ‘double-double’ and the ninth of his career with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and senior Edwin Muniz (Passaic) added 13 points, six rebounds and five assists, making all five of his foul shots. “Even though Jason and Ed were our leading scorers, we didn’t finish well inside today,” said Dempsey. “We went to them considerably today and they did not reward us for successfully getting the ball down low.”
Siena led 69-57 before going on a 9-0 run to take a 78-57 lead with 2:30 left to play. With the score tied at 16-16, Siena (7-5, 2-2 MAAC) went on a 9-0 run, five points by Tay Fisher, to take a 25-16 lead, and the Saints led 43-34 at half time. Fisher finished with 20 points.
For the Broncs, Junior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) made four three-pointers and finished with 12 points, and freshman Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA) tied his career high with 10 points off the bench and grabbed five rebounds.
From the foul line, Rider was 16 of 19, but Rider committed 20 turnovers and shot just 34 percent (20-58) from the field. Both teams grabbed 39 rebounds. “We made our foul shots, but we were beat to balls and they out-competed us,” Dempsey said.
Siena was led by sophomore guard Kojo Mensah, who compiled 21 points.
Rider hosts Fairfield Tuesday at 7:30 pm, the first home game since December 10. “It is going to be a good feeling to have a home game,” said Dempsey. “We need to be home and to get a win to get us back in the right direction.”
-RU-
