Tuesday, December 9
Lawrenceville, N.J.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
3-9,0-0Patriot
51
at
38
Rider
1-8,0-2MAAC
1
2
F
Bucknell
26
25
51
Rider
16
22
38
Photo by: Matt Schumacher
Bison Men Back in Win Column after Smothering Defensive Effort at Rider
12/9/2025 8:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Bucknell (3-9) saw its double-digit lead dwindle to two points (34-32) in the second half as Rider (1-8) rallied with a 14-1 run, but the Bison responded to the chaotic atmosphere by outscoring the Broncs 17-6 in the last 7:42 to pull out a 51-38 win on Tuesday night at Alumni Gymnasium. The Orange & Blue held Rider to its lowest points output of the season and its fewest since 38 on Dec. 31, 2019 against Wisconsin, an impressive achievement since the Broncs faced Houston and Texas earlier this season.Â
"That is part of the basketball season, the ups and the downs when it comes to injuries," said head coach John Griffin III. "But your expectation level of one another must always remain the same. It has been a next man-up mentality. We had players in positions they are not typically in but their competitiveness and their connection have kept us in the right direction."
The 38 points were the fewest allowed by the Bison since a 66-38 win over Binghamton on Nov. 17, 2010. It was the fewest on the road since a 56-23 win at Army on Jan. 23, 2004. Bucknell's 51 points were the fewest in a victory since a 48-45 win over Holy Cross on Feb. 9, 2007, when then-player John Griffin III hit a clutch three-pointer with about a minute left.Â
The Orange & Blue led 33-18 before Rider charged back with 10 straight points. Achile Spadone responded with a free throw before Rider scored four consecutive points and looked to take the lead, but the suffocating Bucknell defense forced a turnover heading into the under-8 media timeout. Bucknell reset at the break, as Amon Dörries tallied a layup off a nice feed from Jacob Meachem. Meachem added a floating jump shot, and Jayden Williams drove for a tough layup. The offensive flurry prompted a Rider timeout.Â
The strategy proved ineffective against a resurgent Bucknell squad. Spadone, Dörries, and Ruot Bijiek, returning from injury, each added a basket as the Bison answered Rider's 14-1 run with their own 14-2 spurt. Rider couldn't generate another serious comeback, and the Bison hit their free throws to ice the game.Â
The stat sheet tells the story of Bucknell's defensive pressure. Rider shot 34% (16-of-47) from the field, 23.1% (3-of-13) from three-point land, and 33.3% (3-of-9) from the free throw line.Â
Bucknell shot slightly better at 37.7% (20-of-53). The Bison started strong from beyond the arc, going 4 for 9 before finishing 1 for 15 the rest of the way.Â
Spadone led the Bison with 14 points to finish as the only player on either side in double figures. The Switzerland native came through with clutch and tough baskets against a physical Rider defense. His effort included playing 37 of the 40 minutes.Â
The Bison never trailed in the contest and scored the first four points. Rider cut the deficit to 9-8 before Bucknell found separation at 19-13 after an Aleksander Pachucki three-pointer.Â
Bucknell built a 26-16 halftime lead by holding the Broncs to three points during the final 9:03.Â
The Bison will now take an extended break for final exams before resuming the schedule on Dec. 20 against Iowa in Des Moines. That will be a homecoming for Bijiek, who hails from the Des Moines suburb of Waukee.Â
"That is part of the basketball season, the ups and the downs when it comes to injuries," said head coach John Griffin III. "But your expectation level of one another must always remain the same. It has been a next man-up mentality. We had players in positions they are not typically in but their competitiveness and their connection have kept us in the right direction."
The 38 points were the fewest allowed by the Bison since a 66-38 win over Binghamton on Nov. 17, 2010. It was the fewest on the road since a 56-23 win at Army on Jan. 23, 2004. Bucknell's 51 points were the fewest in a victory since a 48-45 win over Holy Cross on Feb. 9, 2007, when then-player John Griffin III hit a clutch three-pointer with about a minute left.Â
The Orange & Blue led 33-18 before Rider charged back with 10 straight points. Achile Spadone responded with a free throw before Rider scored four consecutive points and looked to take the lead, but the suffocating Bucknell defense forced a turnover heading into the under-8 media timeout. Bucknell reset at the break, as Amon Dörries tallied a layup off a nice feed from Jacob Meachem. Meachem added a floating jump shot, and Jayden Williams drove for a tough layup. The offensive flurry prompted a Rider timeout.Â
Williams' layup caps a 6-0 Bucknell run and prompts a Rider timeout. Big time answer by the Bison!
— Bucknell MBasketball (@Bucknell_MBB) December 10, 2025
Watch: https://t.co/2Uksk4nVYS@ESPNPlus#rayBucknell | #Team131 pic.twitter.com/iIXyOT3pwi
The strategy proved ineffective against a resurgent Bucknell squad. Spadone, Dörries, and Ruot Bijiek, returning from injury, each added a basket as the Bison answered Rider's 14-1 run with their own 14-2 spurt. Rider couldn't generate another serious comeback, and the Bison hit their free throws to ice the game.Â
The stat sheet tells the story of Bucknell's defensive pressure. Rider shot 34% (16-of-47) from the field, 23.1% (3-of-13) from three-point land, and 33.3% (3-of-9) from the free throw line.Â
Bucknell shot slightly better at 37.7% (20-of-53). The Bison started strong from beyond the arc, going 4 for 9 before finishing 1 for 15 the rest of the way.Â
Spadone led the Bison with 14 points to finish as the only player on either side in double figures. The Switzerland native came through with clutch and tough baskets against a physical Rider defense. His effort included playing 37 of the 40 minutes.Â
The Bison never trailed in the contest and scored the first four points. Rider cut the deficit to 9-8 before Bucknell found separation at 19-13 after an Aleksander Pachucki three-pointer.Â
Bucknell built a 26-16 halftime lead by holding the Broncs to three points during the final 9:03.Â
The Bison will now take an extended break for final exams before resuming the schedule on Dec. 20 against Iowa in Des Moines. That will be a homecoming for Bijiek, who hails from the Des Moines suburb of Waukee.Â
Team Stats
Buck
Rider
FG%
.377
.340
3FG%
.208
.231
FT%
.750
.333
RB
35
32
TO
11
15
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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