December 2, 2006 - Rider 79 Binghamton 65
December 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Basketball
Rider University 79, Binghamton University 65
VESTAL, NY—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.”
Binghamton (3-3) led 58-54 with six minutes left before Rider went on a 15-2 run, 13 points by Johnson, to take a 69-60 lead with 3:12 remaining. Johnson made consecutive three-point field goals to give Rider a 60-58 lead with 5:00 left, Rider’s first lead since leading 29-27 with six minutes left in the first half.
“In the first half I made my first three, but then I had a lay up blocked and was back to my struggling,” Johnson said. “I just woke up at a good time when my team needed it. Coach Dempsey called my number and I finally had to step up for the team.”
Coming off an 0 for 7 shooting night on Thursday in the one-point loss to Monmouth, Johnson shot 5-10 from the field Saturday, including 4-8 three pointers. “Everyone saw the real Lamar Johnson today,” Johnson said. “I’ve been in a bit of a slump and today was my breakout game.”
“Lamar came off the bench and ignited us at the right time, making a couple of threes in our big run,” Dempsey said. “He hasn’t played up to his capabilities yet, so hopefully this will be the springboard he needed. He is only about 45 minutes from home (Scranton) today so maybe some home cooking helped.”
“I needed to step up, and there were a lot of fans from back home at the game today,” Johnson said. “It was a good time to have a good game.”
Rider made 10 of 11 foul shots in the final 2:48 to preserve the victory.
Rider out-scored Binghamton 43-23 in the second half. “That second half was our best half of basketball this year,” Dempsey said. “We played well at both ends of the court.”
Trailing 53-45, Rider (5-2) went on a 9-1 run, all nine scored by junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), to tie the score at 54-54 with 7:27 remaining. Thompson compiled his 17th career-double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
“Obviously Jason was great again today,” Dempsey said. “We had some big performances. (Freshman) Robbie Myers (Mountain Top, PA) gave us quality minutes off the bench, and (senior) Terrance Mouton ran the show.” Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) added 11 points, six assists and five rebounds for the Broncs, while Myers compiled a career-high six points, making all three of his shots while grabbing a pair of rebounds in nine minutes of action.
With the score tied at 43-43, Binghamton went on a 10-2 run, seven points by junior guard Richard Forbes, to take a 53-45 lead with 11:44 remaining. Forbes finished with nine points. “I was very impressed with Binghamton,” Dempsey said. “They’re a very talented team and have a heck of a chance to win their league.”
Rider led 29-27 before the Bearcats went on a 15-5 run, seven points by senior forward Duane James, to take a 42-34 lead, and Binghamton led 42-36 at half time. James finished with a team-high 16 points.
The Broncs made six of their first eight field goal attempts, including three three-pointers, to jump out to a 15-6 lead in the first five minutes of the game.
Binghamton went on a 14-1 run, six points by junior guard Mike Gordon, to take a 20-16 lead with 12 minutes left in the first half. Gordon finished with 10 points.
Rider returns home to host Iona Thursday in the first MAAC game of the season.
-RU-
