GAME NOTES: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action features a matchup between the Rider Broncs and the Iona Gaels. Rider improved to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in MAAC play with a 102-51 thrashing of Canisius on Sunday. The 102 points marked the most scored by the team in any game this season, while the 51 points allowed were the fewest to date. The Broncs have played six true road games and have managed three victories. As for Iona, it has suffered four consecutive defeats to fall to 5-11 overall and 1-3 in conference. The most recent defeat occurred on Sunday by a 63-51 final to Loyola-Maryland. On a positive note, the Gaels are 3-1 at home. Iona holds a 21-17 lead over Rider in the all-time series between the teams, but the Broncs beat the Gaels by a 77-62 final in the 2007 MAAC Tournament.

Rider is led by a pair of Thompsons, Jason and Ryan, who are scoring 20.2 ppg and 14.7 ppg, respectively. Both are shooting well over 50 percent from the floor, and while Jason paces the squad with 11.3 rpg and 39 blocked shots, Ryan is tops with 63 assists and 23 steals. Harris Mansell adds balance to the mix with 12.7 ppg. Rider is posting 76.6 ppg this season, and the team is limiting opponents to 68.6 ppg on 40.3 percent shooting. Obviously, it is hard to imagine the Broncs playing any better than they did in the romp over Canisius last time out. Rider connected on 52.5 percent of its field goal attempts and limited the Golden Griffins to 31.5 percent. Rider dominated every statistical category, and Lamar Johnson led a balanced offensive attack with 21 points off the bench on 6-of-6 shooting from three-point range.

Iona is scoring 67.9 ppg while allowing 74.1 ppg to the opposition. Unlike the Broncs, the Gaels simply do not possess the type of player capable of taking over a game at the offensive end. Dexter Gray is posting 11.8 ppg, while Milan Prodanovic and Devon Clake pitched in 10.8 ppg apiece. While Iona has attempted 281 free throws in 16 outings, its opponents have taken 436 foul shots. Prodanovic scored 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting from the field in the recent loss to Loyola-Maryland. In that game, the Gaels finished with nine assists against 16 turnovers and shot 33.3 percent from the floor to go along with an 11-of-20 effort from the foul line. A 44-26 rebounding disadvantage also played a role in the setback.

Although Iona has the advantage of playing at home, the combination of Ryan and Jason Thompson will be too much for the Gaels to handle. Rider will move above .500 in league play with a solid road victory.