CNBNews

LAWRENCEVILLE—Some of the greatest basketball players and coaches in the history of the Rider University program will return to Alumni Gymnasium on Saturday, November 17. “This is going to be an exciting day for the entire Rider basketball family,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey.

The alumni game will be played at 11:00 am, prior to Rider’s 3:00 pm home opener against the University of Delaware.

Two former head coaches with a combined 16 years and 258 victories on the Rider bench will be the honorary coaches for the alumni game, Kevin Bannon and Don Harnum. “Having Kevin and Don back on the benches certainly will add to the fun,” said Dempsey, the former interim coach who begins his second season as the Bronc head coach with a 16-15 record.

Bannon took Rider to two NCAA tournaments and five conference title games, winning three regular season crowns on his way to 131 victories.

Harnum, now the Rider Director of Athletics, won 127 games on his way to two MAAC regular season titles and an appearance in the NIT. The MAAC Coach of the Year led Rider to the MAAC Title Game in his final season.

“We have a long-standing, strong tradition in men’s basketball,” said Harnum, “and it will be great to get players form all different eras back at the same time. These are people who are part of our history and we’re trying to make this a true Rider basketball family.”

Rider’s all-time leading scorer, Hall of Famer Darrick Suber, is expected to be one of the many players returning. “This is a proud program and it is important to link current players to our basketball family alumni,” Dempsey said.

-RU-