Drexel University 73, Rider University 66
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Men's College Basketball
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.--Despite 21 points and eight rebounds from senior Jason Thompson (Mt. Laurel/Lenape), the Broncs saw their three-game winning streak end at Drexel’s Daskalakis Athletic Center Thursday night (December 27). “I thought Drexel wanted it more than we did tonight,” said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. “It was a well played game and Drexel made more plays than we did in the last eight minutes.”
Rider (8-5) led 58-55 with 6:30 remaining before Drexel (7-5) out-scored Rider 12-2, making four three-point field goals, to take a 67-60 lead with 3:15 left to play. “We played a pretty good game for the first 30 minutes,” Dempsey said. “In the last ten minutes when it was time to go, their kids went and we didn’t. They beat us to loose balls, they beat us on the glass, the team that wanted it more certainly got it tonight.”
Tramayne Hawthorne and Gerald Colds each made two three-pointers in that late stretch and the pair made all nine of Drexel’s three-pointers, combining for 29 points. “They stepped up and made a lot of threes in that stretch,” Dempsey said.
That was the 13th and final lead change of the game, and Drexel’s first lead since 25-22. “When they needed to be good they made some plays and when we needed to be good we weren’t so good,” Dempsey said.
Rider led 51-43 before the host Dragons went on a 10-2 run, six points by Hawthorne, to tie the score at 53-53 with 8:28 remaining. “You have to give Drexel a lot of credit,” Dempsey said. “Their kids really wanted that game. They we resilient when we had a chance to put them away.”
Rider freshman Mike Ringgold (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) made seven of nine field goal attempts in his hometown collegiate debut, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 33 minutes of action. “Mike was great,” Dempsey said. “He’s been battling injuries all year. We finally had some time to get him healthy.”
Trailing 21-16 mid-way through the first half, Rider went on a 21-8 run, six points by Ringgold, to take a 37-29 lead, and the Broncs led 37-30 at half time. “It felt good to come home and play in front of my family and friends,” Ringgold said, “but we lost, so it doesn’t feel too good right now.”
Drexel out-rebounded Rider 39-28, including 25-13 in the second half. “We out-rebounded our opponents in nine of our first 12 games and we won eight of them,” Dempsey said. “Rebounding is always a key. If we’re on the positive end of the glass we’re usually on the positive end of the scoreboard.”
The back and forth first half saw 12 lead changes and two ties.
Drexel trailed 14-13 before out-scoring Rider 8-2 to take a 21-16 lead with10 minutes left in the first half.
Thompson entered the game ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding, 12th in blocked shots and 29th in scoring. His 1,605 career points is now seventh highest ever at Rider.
The victory broke the 26-26 tie in the series that began in 1956-57. The home team has now won the last six meetings, including Rider’s overtime win in Lawrenceville last year and Drexel’s 12-point win here in Philadelphia in 2005-06.
The Dragons were one of the teams many felt deserved an NCAA bid last year after a 23-8 season with 13 road victories, including wins at Villanova and Syracuse. The loss at Rider was considered a major reason why the Dragons did not get selected. Drexel lost at home to North Carolina State in the first round of the NIT last year. “Rider reminds me of our team from last year,” said Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint. “Rider is better this year than last year. Jason is playing better and has great offensive skills. Ryan is having a great year.”
The Dragons were coming off a 12-point win over Bucknell on Saturday night. That victory ended a four-game losing streak. The Dragons began the season with wins over Penn, Navy and Florida Gulf Coast and also defeated Robert Morris and Loyola. Loyola is picked to finish second in the MAAC this year.
Rider returns home to resume MAAC play next weekend, hosting Marist January 4 and Canisius January 6. “We’re excited about getting back to the league play,” Dempsey said. “Tonight was very similar to a high-level MAAC game on the road, so we’re very prepared for the MAAC schedule.”
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