James and Murray, Jr., combine for 43 points to lead Broncs, who use late 18-3 run to secure victory

Burnett led five Skyhawks in double-figures with 17 points, including 13 in the first half as Stonehill led by as much as ten (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

EASTON, Mass. (December 7, 2022) – Rider University used an 18-3 run in the final ten minutes of the second half to clinch a 78-67 victory over Stonehill College in a non-conference men's basketball matchup on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Seniors Mervin James and Dwight Murray, Jr. combined for 43 points to lead Rider, which posted its third straight win. James posted a double-double with game-high totals of 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting, 13 rebounds (five offensive) and five assists, while Murray, Jr., tallied 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-for-7 from three-point distance, adding five rebounds and three assists.

Fifth-year guard Isaiah Burnett led five double-figure scorers for Stonehill, scoring 13 of his 17 points in the first half, finishing 6-of-11 from the floor, including 3-for-7 from deep, three rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Stonehill led by as much as ten in the first half (31-21), but Rider trimmed the deficit to four at the break (39-35) and then opened up the second half with a 12-3 run to grab a five-point lead (47-42) after a hook shot inside from postgrad Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson. The Skyhawks responded and reclaimed the lead with a 10-2 run (54-51) after five-straight points from fifth-year Shamir Johnson with 12:39 to play.

Stonehill maintained that three-point margin (59-56) through the midway point of the half, but Rider reeled off an 18-3 run over the next eight minutes to open a 12-point lead (74-62) after a three-pointer from senior Allen Bertrand with 2:34 remaining that proved to be the difference.

Leaders

Stonehill

Burnett: 17 points (6-for-11, 3-for-7 threes), three rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Johnson: 12 points (3-for-5 threes), three rebounds, two steals.

Josh Mack Fifth-year, Guard: Season-high 13 points (4-for-6, 2-for-2 threes), two assists.

Andrew Sims Fifth-year, Forward: 11 points (4-for-8), seven rebounds, two assists.

Rider

James: 23 points (10-for-18), 13 rebounds, five assists, blocked shot.

Murray, Jr.: 20 points (4-for-7 threes), five rebounds, three assists.

Ogemuno-Johnson: 19 points (7-for-9), nine rebounds, three assists, steal and blocked shot.

Mack scored a season-high 13 points for the Skyhawks off the bench (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

How it Happened

• Rider scored the game's first four points, which were quickly offset by a pair of Burnett three-pointers over the opening three minutes of the game.
• The Broncs reclaimed that four-point lead (14-10) after a Murray, Jr., triple, before Stonehill responded with 13-straight points, keyed by three-straight triples from Sims, junior Thatcher Stone and Burnett, who scored five points in all during the run, to grab a nine-point lead (23-14) after a Stone layup with 9:22 to play in the first half.
• Stonehill stretched its lead to ten points twice, both after Mack three-pointers, the latter of which (34-24) came with 4:56 left in the half.
• The Skyhawks lead was still nine (39-30) after a Stone triple with 2:34 left, when Rider closed the half with five-straight, capped by a Murray, Jr., three, to pull within four (39-35) at the break.
• Rider opened the second half with a 12-3 run, including seven from Ogemuno-Johnson, to grab a five-point lead (47-42) less than four minutes in.
• The Broncs lead was still five (49-44) after two Nehemiah Benson free-throws with 14:16 to play, when Stonehill reclaimed the lead (54-51) two minutes later, with a 10-2 run, with Johnson scoring eight of the ten including a pair of three-pointers.
• The Skyhawks lead remained three (59-56) after a turnaround jumper from Burnett at the midway point of the half, when Rider produced its game-deciding 18-3 run to open a 12-point lead (74-62) after a Bertrand three, who scored five points in all during that stretch.
• Stonehill trimmed that gap to nine (74-65) with 1:24 still on the clock, but could get no closer.

Johnson scored all 12 of his points in the second half for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

Noteworthy

• Burnett has scored in double-figures for the ninth time this season (24^th career) and has led Stonehill in assists for the sixth time, having posted at least one steal in 17-straight games dating back to last season.
• Mack's season-high 13 points is his second double-figure game of the season (11^th career).
• Sims' 11 points give him double-digits for the 16^th-straight game dating back to last season and 39 career games overall, including ten this season.
• Johnson scored all 12 of his points in the second half, and is now shooting 54.5-percent from three-point range this season, after burying 3-of-5 tonight.
• Stonehill got 25 points from its three bench players that saw action tonight, all by Mack and Johnson, as the Skyhawk bench outscored the Rider reserves 25-4.
• Stonehill entered the game shooting a Division I best 83-percent from the free-throw line, but was just 8-for-14 tonight, while Rider converted 14-of-17 at the stripe.
• The Skyhawks gained the first half advantage keyed by nine three-pointers in the opening half, finishing with a season-high matching 13. (33 attempts).
• Rider posted a 43-28 rebounding advantage, turning 12 offensive boards into a 19-0 margin in second chance points.

Up Next

Stonehill (4-7, 0-0 NEC) is off until next Tuesday, December 13, when it visits Boston College for a non-conference clash at Conte Forum at 7 p.m. Alumni, parents and friends of Stonehill are invited to join women's ice hockey head coach Tara Watchorn and football head coach Eli Gardner for a pregame reception at BC's Walsh Hall prior to the game, starting at 5 p.m. Tickets to the game and reception can be reserved at stonehillalumni.org/mbasketball2022 through Friday. Rider (4-4, 1-0 MAAC) hosts University of Delaware on Monday at 7 p.m.

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