November 27, 2006 - Rider 89 Drexel 81 (ot)
November 27, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Basketball
Rider University 89, Drexel University 81 (ot)
LAWRENCEVILLE—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.”
Freshman Ryan Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) scored 16 points, six in overtime, to lead Rider to victory. “I’m very proud of our effort,” said Dempsey. “We did the things that it takes to win in a tight battle against a really good team.
Trailing 75-67, Rider (4-1) out-scored Drexel 8-0 over the final 1:05 of regulation, and Ryan Thompson’s three-point field goal with six seconds left sent the game into overtime. Sophomore Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA) took a three-pointer with 12 seconds left but it fell short, and the rebound came to senior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana), who slapped the ball to Ryan Thompson. “Coach drew up a play and it didn’t go as planned,” Ryan Thompson said. “T. hit it to me and the shot was open. The pass came right to me.”
In overtime, Rider took an 81-77 lead on a jumper by Ryan Thompson, and an 85-79 lead on two foul shots by Ryan Thompson. “Drexel is a terrific team and they played well,” Dempsey said. “It was a very well played game overall. Our kids refused to quit and really responded down the stretch, made some big plays.”
“Give them credit, they made the plays they needed to make,” said Drexel coach Bruiser Flint. “They took it from us.”
Junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), Ryan’s older brother, compiled 24 points and 11 rebounds, making a career-high 14 of 17 foul shots. It was Jason Thompson’s 15th career 'double-double' and second of the season. “Foul shots are more of a mental thing,” Jason Thompson said. “Drexel clogged the middle, they’re a big and physical team.”
Rider had five players score in double figures for the second consecutive game. Mansell compiled 17 points and eight rebounds, junior Joel Green (Philadelphia, PA/Harrison) scored 15 points, and Mouton added 11 points and five assists.
The game held special significance to Philadelphia-area residents Green and Mansell. “I have a few friends on this team, so this was for bragging rights,” Green said. “Scott Rodgers and Tramayne Hawthorne were recruited at the same time by the same schools as me,” Mansell said. “They both decided to go there and then Drexel didn’t want me anymore, so tonight meant a little bit more.”
Rider led 62-61 with 6:20 left in the second half before Drexel (2-2) went on a 9-1 run, five points by senior guard Bashir Mason, to take a 70-63 lead with 3:23 remaining. Mason finished with a game-high 26 points.
Rider led 14-10 before Drexel went on a 14-5 run, seven points by Mason, to take a 24-19 lead, and the Dragons led 37-32 at half time.
Rider and Drexel have now met 52 times, with each team winning 26. The home team has won the last five meetings.
Rider hosts Monmouth Thursday. “I told the guys I thought we had two potential NCAA teams coming in this week with Drexel and Monmouth,” Dempsey said.
-RU-
