Home Opener Monday

Victorious Broncs Return Home after Shocking College Basketball World

“We're looking forward to getting home and playing in front of our fans," Rider head basketball coach Tommy Dempsey said Friday night. “I am assuming the Broncs' Zoo will have a bit of energy in it coming off of this win.”

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Coming off what has to be considered one of the biggest wins in Rider basketball history, an 88-74 win over the defending SEC Champions, 18^th ranked Mississippi State, the Broncs will host Lehigh University Monday night at 7pm in the home opener.

Lehigh is coming off a 65-53 loss at Richmond on Monday. "We have to focus on Lehigh right now," Dempsey said. "They scare me, sandwiched between these high-profile teams (Virginia and Kentucky next week). Lehigh is a very good team that we only beat by one point last year.”

Rider begins the season 1-0 for the first time since 2003, having lost the last five season openers. In home openers, however, Rider has won 11 of the last 13, including the last three, and will try to make it four in a row on Monday.

Rider defeated Lehigh 69-68 last year in Bethlehem, PA. The Mountain Hawks return four starters and seven of their top eight scorers from the 2008-09 team that finished 15-14, losing in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Championships. Lehigh has two of the top players in the Patriot League this year, seniors Marquis Hall and Zahir Carrington. Both were First-Team All-Patriot League selections last year. Hall is the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year this season. Hall and Carrington combined for 27.9 points per game last year. Carrington led the Patriot League in rebounding and Hall was third in the Patriot League in assists.

But Rider has three of the top players in the MAAC, Preseason Player of the Year Ryan Thompson, and the stars from Friday night, junior Mike Ringgold and sophomore Novar Gadson. Ringgold and Gadson combined for 42 points and 17 rebounds against Mississippi State, making 17 of 30 shots from the field. Ringgold and Gadson are both Preseason All-MAAC selections this year and showed why Friday night.

For those who can't make the game, the contest will be audio/video streamed on Bronc Vision with Daryl Fein and Steve Rudenstein bringing you all of the action through the internet feed from 107.7FM The Bronc. LiveStats via Game Tracker will also be available at GoBroncs.com.

The home opener Monday night in the Broncs’ Zoo. Are you ready for some basketball? Some Monday night basketball?