Men’s Basketball Drops Defensive Battle with Rider, 57-53

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell had a possession down one point in the final 10 seconds but could not convert, and Rider finished off a 57-53 win at the free-throw line on Saturday night at Sojka Pavilion. The Bison, who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end, were fighting from behind for most of the contest and just could not get enough shots to drop.

It was a defensive struggle all night with both teams shooting well under 40 percent, and offensive rebounding and free throws played a big role in the result. Rider (4-2), grabbed the first eight rebounds of the game and led 16-0 in second-chance points in the first half and 20-9 in total. All told, the Broncs finished with a 42-29 edge on the glass.

The Bison (4-3) also missed four straight free throws in one key stretch late in the game as they were slowly chipping away at what had been an eight-point deficit. Bucknell finished 12-for-20 at the charity stripe. Rider had been solid at the line for most of the night until three straight misses gave the Bison a chance to win the game.

A 6-0 run gave the Broncs a 52-44 lead with 2:40 to play. The Bison had been ice cold from the field for much of the second half, but Brandon McCreesh nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner and Josh Bascoe scored on a floater in the lane to make it a three-point game.

Ruot Bijiek had a potential tying 3-pointer rim out, and T.J. Weeks Jr. made two free throws to put Rider up 54-49 with 37 seconds left.

Bascoe spun a shot off the glass, and then Flash Burton missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Bascoe was fouled on a drive and made both to make it a 54-53 game with 12 seconds left. Tyriek Weeks went 0-for-2 at the line with 11.4 to go, giving the Bison a chance to win it in the final seconds.

After both teams used timeouts, Bascoe dribbled to the baseline on the right side, and his tough fadeaway jumper drew front iron. Burton was fouled with 0.5 seconds left, made the first free throw and missed the second intentionally. The Bison rebounded and called a timeout despite having none remaining, and T.J. Weeks made both technical free throws to make it a four-point final margin.

Bucknell trailed by as many as nine points at 14-5 but rallied to take a 22-21 lead after a driving dunk from Noah Williamson and back-to-back threes from Bascoe and Achile Spadone. Rider closed the half on a 9-2 run and led the rest of the way.

The Broncs threw in two 3-pointers at the end of the shot clock to help stretch their margin back to eight in the second half. Bucknell held them scoreless for a stretch of 5:42 later in the game, but a 4-for-10 spell at the free throw line stunted the comeback attempt.

Bucknell came into the game leading the Patriot League in scoring at 80.3 points per game, but the Bison shot 35.4 percent from the floor and hit 7 of 28 from downtown. Bascoe led the team with 13 points, followed by Ian Motta with nine and Bijiek with seven points, five rebounds, and a career-high five assists. McCreesh tallied eight points and six boards off the bench.

Tariq Ingraham paced Rider with 14 points and nine rebounds. The Bronce shot 32.7 percent from the field and hit 5 of 16 from the arc and 18 of 27 from the foul line.

Bucknell returns to action on Wednesday at Maryland at 4:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Drops Defensive Battle with Rider, 57-53

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Team Stats

Josh Bascoe

Ian Motta

Noah Williamson

Brandon McCreesh

Players Mentioned

Josh Bascoe

Ruot Bijiek

Brandon McCreesh

Ian Motta

Achile Spadone

Noah Williamson