March 3, 2007 - #2 Niagara 77 #7 Rider 52 - MAAC Quarter-Finals
March 3, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Basketball
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Quarter-Finals
Niagara University 77, Rider University 52
BRIDGEPORT, CT—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.
Holding a 52-44 lead, Niagara (20-11), the second seed, went on a 17-2 run, five points by Charron Fisher, to take a 69-46 lead with 4:50 left to play. Fisher finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. “I am also disappointed that it got to 25 points at the end,” Dempsey said. “It really spoiled a pretty good second half effort.”
Rider (16-15), the seventh seed, trailed 48-33 before going on an 11-4 run, six points by Thompson, to cut the lead to eight, 52-44 with 8:00 left to play, but that was as close as the Broncs could get.
Rider trailed 36-18 at half time but began the second half by out-scoring Niagara 10-2, four points by sophomore Lamar Johnson (Scranton, PA/Scranton), to cut the lead to 38-28 with 15:02 remaining. Johnson finished with 11 points. “We always thought that we had a chance to come back,” said Johnson. “We never gave up.”
Holding a 12-11 lead mid-way through the first half, Niagara went on a 12-0 run, six points by J. R. Duffey, to take a 24-11 lead with 7:45 left in the first half, and the Purple Eagles led 36-18 at half time. Duffey finished with nine points and six rebounds.
“We really played defense tonight,” said Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich, who has now led the Purple Eagles to seven semi-finals in the last nine years. “Finishing second was no great reward because Rider is a good team.”
“In the first half we forced a lot of shots and we didn’t share the ball, which is uncharacteristic of us,” said Dempsey.
Rider senior Terrance Mouton (Lafayette, LA/Acadiana) graduates with the Rider record for games played with 119, along with 1,131 points, 21st highest ever at Rider. “This was a tough way to end my career,” said Mouton.
“It has been a pleasure playing with Terrance,” Thompson said. “T. has had a terrific career,” Dempsey said.
Rider finishes with twice as many wins this season (16) as last year (8). “’We made a huge step this year, re-establishing the program,” Dempsey said. “Now we need to take another big step next year, which could be harder. The thing I am most excited about was the development of Jason.”
Thompson, the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, finished the season averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds. “Jason is one of the best rebounders in the country and has great instincts for the ball,” Mihalich said.
Mouton is the only player not returning for Rider next season. “We have a great group of kids with great character,” Dempsey said. “We’ll be significantly better next year.”
-RU-
