Sophomore Charron Fisher recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds Friday at Rider. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Rider University scored 48 second-half points and recorded a 78-70 win over the Niagara University men’s basketball team Friday night in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Alumni Gym in Lawrenceville, N.J. Rider improves to 5-10 overall and 1-6 in the MAAC while Niagara sees it three-game win streak snapped and falls to 6-10, 3-5.
The Broncs used an inside basket by Jason Thompson and a three-point field goal by Paul Johnson to give them a 71-66 lead with 2:48 left. The Purple Eagles made only two of six foul shots in the game’s final 75 seconds to hamper their comeback efforts.
Senior James Mathis (Newark, N.J.) scored inside to bring Niagara with three, 71-68, before sophomore Charron Fisher (Pennsauken, N.J.), who led the Purple Eagles with 22 points, sank one of two free throws. Fisher also had 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.
Rider then sank two free throws for a 73-69 lead. Mathis sank one foul shot and Paul Johnson sank one free throw for Rider to give the Broncs a 74-70 lead with 14 seconds left. Niagara was called for a technical foul and Paul Johnson was fouled with one second left. He made four free throws for the final margin.
The Purple Eagles scored the game’s first seven points and roared out to a 41-21 lead with 3:01 to play after a free throw by junior guard Lorenzo Miles (Washington, D.C.).
Fisher scored 14 of his points in the first half as Niagara held a 44-30 lead at halftime. The Purple Eagles also had a 28-12 rebounding edge in the first 20 minutes as junior forward J.R. Duffey (Fort Worth, Texas) had eight and Fisher snared five. Each player grabbed four offensive rebounds. Duffey finished with 11 rebounds.
Rider opened the second half with a 7-0 run and eventually tied the game at 61 when Lamar Johnson sank a three-point field goal with 6:11 remaining. The Broncs then took their first lead when Jason Thompson sank two free throws with 5:37 left. Fisher tied the game at 66 with 3:38 left by making two foul shots before Rider went on its game-clinching run.
Miles scored 15 points for Niagara while junior forward Clif Brown (Ferndale, Mich.) had 11 points and nine rebounds in a reserve role.
Thompson led Rider with 23 points while Paul Johnson scored 21 points. Lamar Johnson added 14 points.
Niagara plays Saint Peter’s Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City, N.J.
