January 2, 2007 - Rider 58 Fairfield 55
January 2, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's College Basketball
Rider University 58, Fairfield University 55
LAWRENCEVILLE--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.”
Trailing 46-39, Rider (8-5, 2-1 MAAC) went on a 12-0 run, five points by Mouton, to take a 51-46 lead with 2:40 left to play. That was the eighth and final lead change of the game. “We normally get a run going. We play with an incredible amount of confidence down the stretch because our point guard (Mouton) is unflappable,” said Dempsey. “To play 40 minutes without a turnover and to turn it on at the end when we need him.”
“I felt we were struggling offensively, and that I had to step up and do whatever the team needed for us to win,” said Mouton, who has been the catalyst of three come-from-behind victories this year.
Rider junior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape) added 14 points and 10 rebounds for his 20th career ‘double-double’ and the seventh of this season. “I was struggling a bit offensively tonight (6 for 15 from the field), so I felt I had to help by doing the energy things, to block some shots, get some rebounds, some hustle plays, anything for us to win,” said Thompson, who had a career-high six blocks, including five in the first half.
Thompson needs 34 points to become the 26th Bronc to score 1,000 career points, and now has 569 rebounds, 18th highest ever at Rider.
Sophomore Lamar Johnson (Scranton, PA/Scranton) made his first start of the season for Rider and compiled 11 points, including a three-point field goal with 1:52 left to give Rider a 54-48 lead. “Lamar’s shot has been off lately but he hit what might have been the biggest shot of the game,” Dempsey said. Johnson missed his first five three-point field goal attempts before making one to tie the score at 27-27 and another to tie the score at 30-30 with 16:50 left to play. “Lamar is a great shooter and sometimes great shooters struggle,” Dempsey said. “Hopefully tonight will give him some confidence.”
“Lamar started hitting some key shots down the stretch and that really helped us out,” said Mouton.
Rider led 32-30 before Fairfield (3-12, 1-2 MAAC) went on a 12-3 run, eight points by freshman forward Anthony Johnson, to take a 42-35 lead with 11:50 left to play. Johnson finished with 14 points. “I had some open looks,” Anthony Johnson said. “During that stretch I made them, but other times tonight I didn’t.”
“I think we let an unbelievable opportunity get away from us today,” said first-year Fairfield head coach Ed Cooley. “I thought we controlled the game for 37 and a half minutes today. Once again we held an opponent to under 60 points and we lose the game.”
Senior guard Michael Van Schaick led Fairfield with 19 points. Fairfield jumped out to 15-6 lead as Van Schaick made three three-point field goals in the first eight minutes of the game.
Van Schaick came into the game having made 25 consecutive free throws and missed his first attempt of the game. Van Schaick is the MAAC leader at 91.2 percent, and made five of six for the game.
Trailing 15-6, Rider went on an 18-7 run, eight points by Mouton, to take a 24-22 lead with 3:19 left in the first half. Fairfield led 25-24 at the half.
Rider shot just 37.5 percent from the field, and Fairfield shot 38.2 percent from the field. “We knew it wasn’t going to be a pretty game,” said Dempsey. “They are physical and play great defense. Everyone who has played them has struggled offensively.”
Rider sophomore Barney Anderson (Jersey City/St. Anthony’s) came in off the bench to add eight points and six rebounds. “My role is to come in rebound, hustle and play hard, to try to give my team a spark,” said Anderson.
Rider sophomore Harris Mansell (Cheltenham, PA) suffered a knee injury at Notre Dame December 28 and was not dressed for Fairfield. His status is day-to-day.
Rider is 4-1 at home this year and has won 102 of the last 135 games in Alumni Gym (.756).
Rider travels to Marist Friday for a MAAC contest. “This game should have us feeling better about ourselves as we head to Marist on Friday,” Dempsey said.
-RU-
