January 22, 2006 - Loyola-MD 78 Rider 76
January 22, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Basketball
Loyola College 78, Rider University 76
BALTIMORE, MD—Apparently, lightning does not strike twice. After coming back from a 20-point first half deficit in a victory over Niagara on Friday, Rider tried to come back from a 19-point second half deficit on Sunday before falling at Loyola in a televised Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game. “We’re playing good basketball right now,” said Rider coach Tommy Dempsey. “We just dug ourselves too big a hole to climb out of.”
Trailing 70-63, Rider went on a 7-0 run, five points by senior Paul Johnson (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem), to tie the score at 70-70 with 3:50 left. Johnson finished with 12 points. “Paul is really starting to come on,” said Dempsey. “As a senior he realizes he no longer can be a role player. He’s been a star performer the last two games, and if that continues, we’re going to become a team no one wants to see.”
Loyola junior guard Shane James made a reverse lay-up with 3.6 seconds left for the game winning basket, breaking a 76-76 tie. A running lay up by Rider junior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) with: 27 left tied the score at 76-76. Mouton’s shot at the buzzer rimmed out. Mouton finished with nine points.
Rider freshman Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA) scored a career-high 18 points, making all five of his field goal attempts, including four three-pointers, and all four of his foul shots, and freshman Lamar Johnson (Scranton, PA) added 12 points. “The freshmen kept us in the game tonight,” said Dempsey.
Rider trailed 60-49 before going on an 11-4 run, seven points by Paul Johnson, to cut the lead to 64-60 with 7:25 left to play. Trailing 57-38 with 16:30 left to play, Rider went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 57-49 with 11:11 left to play.
Rider led 7-6 before Loyola went on an 11-2 run, four points by Michael Tick, to take a 17-9 lead. Loyola out-scored Rider 8-2 over the final 2:30 of the first half to take a 48-36 lead at halftime. Tuck finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Rider missed seven foul shots in the first half, and trailed by 12 points at halftime. Sophomore Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) collected his 10th career ‘double-double’ and fifth of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Thompson made six of eight foul shots but saw his streak of consecutive foul shot made stop at 21.
Andre Collins scored 17 points in the first half, and finished with 22. A transfer from the University of Maryland, Collins is currently the second leading scorer in the nation. “Collins was unstoppable in the first half,” said Dempsey. Collins made five of eight three-point attempts in the first half. “In the second have Terrance took him out of his game. Terrance really stepped up defensively in the second half.”
Loyola out-scored Rider 9-2 to start the second half on three three-pointers by Marquis Sullivan, taking a 57-38 lead with 16:30 left to play.
Rider hosts Manhattan Tuesday. “We’re taking the next step in become a good ball club,” said Dempsey.
-RU-
