GAME NOTES: The Rider Broncs play their first home game in over a month tonight, as they host the Marist Red Foxes in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at Alumni Gym. The Broncs wrapped up a lengthy five-game road trip on December 27th, dropping a 73-66 decision at Drexel. The loss snapped the team's season-high three-game win streak, as it fell to 8-5 overall. Rider, which is a perfect 4-0 at home this season, now returns back to Alumni Gym for the first time since capturing an 81-73 win over Binghamton on December 1st. As for Marist, it recently participated in the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden, where it finished an even 1-1. The team opened the tournament with a narrow loss to host St. John's (62-59) before snapping a three-game slide with a 73-67 triumph over Hofstra in the consolation round on Saturday. Now at 7-6 overall, the Red Foxes head back into league play, where they sport the same record as Rider at 1-1. In terms of the all-time series, Marist holds a 20-15 edge over the Broncs and that includes a sweep of two meetings a season ago.

Marist made good on 9-of-21 attempts from long distance and 16-of-23 at the foul line, as it recorded a 73-67 win over Hofstra this past weekend. The Red Foxes also sank 43.6 percent of their field goals, while holding Hofstra to just a 39.0 percent shooting effort from the floor. Louie McCroskey led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Jay Gavin logged 16 points off the bench. For the season, McCroskey tops the roster in scoring at 13.8 ppg and he is also pulling down 6.3 rpg. Gavin has provided the club with a spark off the pine, as he chips in with 10.2 ppg on the strength of 37.0 percent shooting from long range. As a whole, Marist is posting 66.6 ppg this season, in addition to connecting on 38.9 percent of its shots from three-point land.

Rider has done a solid job at the offensive end of the court this season and the Broncs are currently averaging 74.4 ppg on 46.8 percent shooting from the field. Jason Thompson is one of the most talented players in the MAAC and he is one of just a handful of players averaging a double-double with team-highs of 19.9 ppg and 11.0 rpg. Ryan Thompson, Jason's brother, ranks second on the club in both scoring (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.8 rpg) and he is also dishing out a team-high 4.2 apg. Harris Mansell rounds out the double-digit scorers for Rider with 13.6 ppg. In the team's last game, Jason Thompson poured in 21 points and collected eight caroms, but it wasn't enough for the Broncs in a 73-66 loss at Drexel. Rider made just three three-point field goals compared to nine by Drexel, and it also lost the battle on the boards, 39-28.

Rider is the more potent of the two teams here and with the Thompson brothers leading the way, the Broncs should come victorious in this one.