February 24, 2006 - Loyola-MD 69 Rider 66
February 24, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Basketball
Loyola College 69, Rider University 66
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs went on an 11-3 run to cut the lead to 67-66 with 21 seconds left, but that was as close as the Broncs could get in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss to Loyola Friday. “It was one heck of a fight by our kids,” said Rider coach Tommy Dempsey. “The one constant has been us being ultra-competitive.”
Loyola (14-12, 7-10 MAAC) led 64-55 before Rider (8-18, 4-13 MAAC) went on an 11-3 run, six points by freshman Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA), to cut the lead to 67-66 with 21 seconds left. Mansell finished with 13 points. “We’ve had so many of these comebacks, the one thing I’ve learned this year is that is isn’t over until that final horn blows,” said Mansell.
Loyola made 11 of 15 foul shots in the final 2:50 to preserve the victory, including two of three by Josko Alujevic in the final 30 seconds. Alujevic finished with 13 points.
Rider lost its leading scorer and rebounder when sophomore Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) was injured 7:03 into the game on an intentional foul. Thompson suffered a concussion and is doubtful for Sunday’s regular season finale against Saint Peter’s. “There was obviously some adversity tonight,” said Dempsey. “Not only losing Jason early but being down 11. If nothing else, this teams knows how to fight. I was nervous when Jason went down, it was scary.”
Thompson is second in the MAAC in rebounding and blocks, seventh in scoring. “We are an average rebounding team with Jason, so without we really struggle on the glass. Jason was going to be a tough match-up for them, and with him and Edwin in there they are a tough tandem for anyone.”
Loyola led 53-42 before Rider went on a 13-3 run, five points by senior Edwin Muniz (Passaic), to cut the lead to 56-55 with 3:59 left to play. Muniz finished with a game-high 17 points. “When Jason went down we were worried about him, and that brought our spirits down,” said Muniz, “but then we decided to go out and play hard for Jason.”
Holding a 36-35 lead, Loyola went on an 11-2 run, five points by senior Andre Collins, to take a 47-37 lead mid-way through the second half. The third leading scorer in the nation, Collins finished with 17 points.
Senior Paul Johnson (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem) grabbed a game-high11 rebounds for Rider. Rider freshman Rodney Pierce (Buffalo, NY/Hutchinson Tech) scored a career-high 16 points, including 11 in the first half.
Loyola scored the final five points of the first half, all five by Marquis Sullivan, to take a 30-29 lead at half time. Sullivan finished with 15 points. Holding a 15-13 lead, Rider went on a 5-0 run, four points by Muniz, to take a 20-13 lead mid-way through the first half.
Rider hosts Saint Peter’s Sunday in the regular season finale. “We’re right there,” said Dempsey. “For any team to become great, I think it has to go through tough times like this to make them stronger. There has certainly been a lot of improvement in this team. We’re just trying to grow up. We had two freshman combine for 29 points tonight. We’re growing, and we have a lot of heart. This is going to be a great team down the road.”
-RU-
