The 2006-07 Rider University basketball season had many highlights.

Senior Jazmine Fenlator of the track & field team, junior Don Fisch of the wrestling team, and junior Jason Thompson of the basketball team have been named the winners of the Clair Bee Trophy as Rider University Athletes of the Year for 2006-07.

The Rider University Athletics Department recently won a bronze medal at the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) convention in Orlando, Florida. Rider won the award for the basketball season ticket brochure design category as part of the 16th annual convention.

Mike Ringgold and Matt Griffin of Philadelphia and Justin Robinson of London, England, have signed national letters of intent to further their education and basketball careers at Rider University, Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey announced today. “In recruiting you are constantly in search of players with not only great potential on the basketball court, but also student-athletes of great character that fit the academic profile of Rider University,” Dempsey said. “We have accomplished that in this recruiting class.”

The Rider University men’s basketball team will be one of eight teams competing in the three-game Old Spice Classic Thanksgiving weekend at the Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. “I know our players, coaches, administration, alumni, boosters, and fans are extremely excited about the tournament,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Rider University junior Jason Thompson was named to the All-Met First Team by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association at the 74th Haggerty Awards dinner Tuesday night. “Jason has been such a great player for us the past few years and it is always nice to see people recognize that,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

11 Rider University student-athletes were honored Friday as part of the 20th annual National Student-Athlete Day.

Jason Thompson of the Rider University basketball team was named to the CollegeInsider.com 2007 Defensive All-America team, the second major award for Thompson from collegeinsider.com after being named a Mid-Major All-American last week.  The defensive award for Thompson includes all players from Division I. "It was nice to see Jason honored for his defensive efforts this season," said head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Jason Thompson of the Rider University basketball team was named to the CollegeInsider.com 2007 Mid-Major All-America team. “Jason had a very special season,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey, “and it is great to see him rewarded by CollegeInsider.”

Amanda Burke of the swimming & diving team, and Jason Thompson of the basketball team, were named the Rider University Athletes of the Month for February.

Despite 22 points and nine rebounds by junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) the Rider basketball season came to an end Saturday in the quarter-finals of the 2007 Bank of America Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship tournament, losing to Niagara. “There is always a feeling of disappointment when the season comes to an end,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) compiled 24 points and 16 rebounds to lead Rider to victory over Iona in the first round of  2007 Bank of America Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship tournament Friday night. “We did enough to win,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “We didn’t have our ‘A’ game, but we had enough.”

Jason Thompson of the Rider University basketball team was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, it was announced Thursday night.

Rider juniors Kevin Hickman and Joel Green of the men’s basketball team was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic team it was announced by the league office Thursday night.

Despite 24 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots by junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), the Broncs ended the regular season with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss at Niagara Sunday afternoon. “Niagara is a very talented team, a very good basketball team, and to beat them you have to play very well,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “We had too many guys who just didn’t have a good game.”

Junior Kam Warner (Pleasantville) scored a career-high 24 points to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win at Canisius Friday. “Early on we couldn’t make any shots, and when we put Kam into the game he really brought some life to us,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

The "Rider Basketball Radio Show" featuring Rider University men's basketball coach Tommy Dempsey continues TUESDAY night, February 27 at 7:00pm, at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar located on Route 1 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

The Broncs fell to Murray State of the Ohio Valley Conference in the O’Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters game Saturday evening. “Being a competitor, they all matter, conference ramifications or not,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “Every game is an opportunity to get better.”

Rider University will host Murray State University on Saturday, February 17 at 7:00 pm, as part of the fifth annual O’Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters. “We are certainly excited to be a part of ESPN's Bracket Buster again this season,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. 

The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference at Loyola Wednesday night. “We never got into a good flow tonight,” said head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Junior Jason Thompson and freshman Ryan Thompson of the Rider University basketball team were honored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Jason as Co-Player of the Week and Ryan as Co-Rookie of the Week for all games played February 5-11. “I was happy to see both Jason and Ryan be honored by the MAAC for their play last week,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Crunch Time. In February, teams want to be playing at the top of their game. The Rider Broncs have won two in a row and four of their last six, after defeating Canisius by 10 points Sunday. “This was a big weekend for us,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) compiled 23 points and a career-high 20 rebounds to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Manhattan Friday. “I’m proud of the way we played tonight,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.  “We were prepared to play well tonight.”

The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Marist Monday evening. The victory puts Marist back into a tie for first place with Loyola. “We played with a lot of pride in the second half and almost pulled off a great win,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Iona Saturday afternoon. “I just want to tip my hat to the Iona program,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.  “They hung in there and fought today.”

Jason Thompson of the basketball team, and Lauren Urbanski of the swimming & diving team, were named the Rider University Athletes of the Month for January.

Junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) made a lay-up with 4.5 seconds left to give Rider a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory at Saint Peter’s Monday night. Thompson finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. “You take them any way you can get them,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “When you are on the road you just have to find a way, and tonight we found a way to get it done at the end.”

Jason Thompson of the Rider University basketball team was named the co-winner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week award for all games played January 22-28. “Jason was unbelievable,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.  It marked the second time this season Thompson has shared this award.

Junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) compiled 31 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Siena at the Sovereign Bank Arena Saturday. “Jason was unbelievable today,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Despite a career-high 20 points by sophomore Lamar Johnson (Scranton, PA/Scranton), and another ‘double-double’ from junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to first-place Loyola Sunday.  “Loyola is in first place for a reason,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.  “They defend well and they’re good. Right now they’re better than us.”

Five outstanding athletes from five different sports spanning three decades will be inducted into the Rider University Athletics Hall of Fame January 20, 2007.

Despite 21 points and six rebounds from sophomore Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA), and 20 points and nine rebounds from junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Manhattan Thursday night. “We caught Manhattan on a night that they played very well,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Despite a career-high 31 points by junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Niagara Sunday afternoon. “I thought we played a good basketball game, both teams did, but I’m disappointed in that we were in control for most of the game and we let one get away from us today,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

It doesn’t matter who starts the game, what matters is who finishes. Junior Joel Green (Philadelphia, PA/Harrison) came in off the bench and made two foul shots with 1.9 seconds left to give Rider a come-from-behind Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win at Fairfield Friday. “We had a quality possession leading up to those foul shots,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.  “We had a good shot, got an offensive rebound, made a nice drive to the basket and when it wasn’t there a nice pass to Joel, who completed the play.”

Junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) scored 22 points, including the 1,000th of his career, to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Saint Peter’s Tuesday. “Someone told me I was getting close, but I’m more concerned with giving my team a chance to win the game,” Thompson said. “I am proud of this accomplishment, though.”

The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Marist Friday. “Marist has good players and is a tough team to beat up here,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey, “that’s why they’re the top team in the league right now, but we’re coming along. We’re going to be a good team this year.”

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will kick off its 2007 MAAC Basketball Television Schedule on Friday, January 5, with Rider University taking on Marist College at the McCann Center at 7:00 p.m., live on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network.

Senior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) scored 16 points to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Fairfield Tuesday night. “We won a grind tonight,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “We found a way to get it done on a night when we didn’t have a lot going offensively.”

The Broncs fell to the nationally ranked Fighting Irish Thursday night. “Despite the score, there were some positives tonight,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey, “but we were just beaten by a much better team.”

Christmas came a little early for Rider, as the Broncs came back from a 21-point second half deficit to defeat FDU Friday. “We did a great job of forcing some turnovers, and we made a lot of plays down the stretch,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

The Broncs lost at Villanova Wednesday night. “We never really got into a flow tonight,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “It was a bit of a case of what could go wrong, did go wrong.”

During his visits to Lenape High School, Tommy Dempsey thought he was recruiting a raw, talented high school center for Rider University coach Don Harnum. Dempsey didn't realize he was actually building the foundation of his own Division 1 basketball team.

The Broncs lost a back and forth, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Siena at the Pepsi Arena Saturday afternoon. “This was a good college basketball game between two good college basketball teams,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “They made a few more plays than we did in the last three minutes of the game today, but I thought it was pretty evenly played.”

Senior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) scored 22 points, 17 in the second half, to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Iona Thursday. “Terrance bailed us out in the second half and really caught fire,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “He really stepped up when we needed him.”

Jason Thompson of the basketball team and Lauren Urbanski of the swimming & diving team have been named the Rider University Athletes of the Month for November.

Jason Thompson, a junior on the Rider University basketball team, was named the co-winner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week award for all games played November 27-December 3. “Jason is off to a great start,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “I can’t remember a player having a better week.”

Sophomore Lamar Johnson (Scranton, PA/Scranton) scored 16 points off the bench, 13 in the final six minutes of the second half, to lead Rider to a come-from-behind victory at Binghamton Saturday afternoon. The victory is Rider’s third consecutive road win. “I’m very happy,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “That was a great win. We had to come up here and play well to beat them and we played well.”

Despite a career-high 29 points by junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), Rider saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with a loss to Monmouth Thursday.  “It is very disappointing when you are that close to victory and don’t execute in the last minute of the game,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “Hopefully this will be something we can learn from.”

Rider extended its winning streak to four games with an overtime victory over Drexel Monday.  “We’re still a work in progress but our confidence is certainly growing,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “This was a bit of a gut check to see where we really were. We played well tonight. That doesn’t mean we’re a great team yet, but we played well against a very good team. We’ve won four in a row and we’re playing well because we have a good team.”

Senior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) got knocked out of the game with 5:25 remaining with a head butt, got stitched up, changed his bloody shirt, and came back in to score a lay-up with five seconds left to give Rider a victory over Northeastern in the Bronc home opener. “I like to have the ball in my hands in those situations,” said Mouton, Rider’s only senior.  “I try to have the confidence to like to be in those situations. I’m a senior, so I need to step up in those situations.”

Junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) compiled 27 points and nine rebounds, and sophomore Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA) added 19 points and seven rebounds, to lead Rider to victory at Delaware Tuesday. “Tonight it was a good effort and a quality win against a quality opponent,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Rider University Athletics Hall of Famer Tom Leyden passed away Sunday in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 94.

As part of the MAAC Gives Back and The Rider Athletics Partners in a Caring Community Program, Rider Athletics and eight of the varsity teams assisted the Rider University's Center for Multicultural Affairs and Community Service by donating food during the 2006 annual drive.

Sophomore Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA) compiled a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds, and made four of four foul shots in the final 44 seconds of the game, to lead Rider to victory at Boston U. Saturday afternoon. “It felt great to win on the road,” said head coach Tommy Dempsey. “It wasn’t only a road win, it was a quality road win. BU is a very good team that is going to win  a lot of games.”

The Broncs lost the opener at NJIT Tuesday. “It’s a long haul, and this season won’t be defined by the way we played tonight,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

The Broncs tuned up for the upcoming season opener at NJIT with an exhibition win over Wilkes University Saturday. “What I like about exhibition games is that on Tuesday night it won’t feel like it is our first game,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “Everybody got their uniform on, we had some people in the crowd, and we got a lot of the nerves out.”

Rider University will offer free admission to its men’s basketball game against Wilkes University on Saturday, November 11 to all veterans past and those serving today, in honor of Veteran’s Day.

What makes a good leader?  The Rider University Department of Athletics, in conjunction with Rider’s Center for the Development of Leadership Skills, is taking serious measures to find the answers to that question.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference held its annual Basketball Media Day Tuesday and Rider University junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) was named to the Preseason First Team All-MAAC.

The 2006-2007 Rider University men’s basketball schedule features three teams who competed in the NCAA tournament last year, two games on the Madison Square Garden Television Network, a game at the Sovereign Bank Arena, and at least one game on ESPNU.

Kevin Baggett has been hired as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Rider University, Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey announced.  Baggett joined the Rider staff after an opening was created when Fred Dupree left to become an assistant coach at the College of Charleston.

Mike Witcoskie was named the new assistant coach on the Rider University men’s basketball team, Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey announced.

Rider University is one of five Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball programs that will host a game, and all 10 MAAC teams will compete, in the fifth annual BracketBusters series, which will be televised on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360 on Friday, February 16 and Saturday, February 17.  “We feel very fortunate to be a part of the BracketBuster again this year,” said Rider Head Coach Tommy Dempsey.  “We think this is a great opportunity for more exposure for our program.”

The summer job.  We all remember them.  Cutting lawns, working as a lifeguard, maybe playing a little basketball. 

Unique.  That is how then newly appointed Rider coach Tom Dempsey described the opportunity that presented itself to him last June. Ten months later a better world might be -- relieved.

The cavalry never arrived for David Lerner Associates, so it was up to the faithful five of Jason Krayl, Dwayne Ailey, Mike Scott, Terrance Mouton and Dan O'Neill to last the entire game.