GAME NOTES: The Manhattan Jaspers and Rider Broncs of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will meet this evening for the second time in less than a week. Manhattan has lost three straight games and six of the last seven to plummet to 8-10 overall and 2-6 in league play. The Jaspers and Broncs played on Saturday, and Rider won that bout by an 85-82 final. Prior to that home game for Manhattan, its previous four losses all came on the road. Rider has won its last five decisions to move to 13-6 overall and 6-2 in conference. The Broncs, who are 7-1 at home, are fresh off Monday's 68-63 overtime win over Iona. Despite Rider's triumph on Saturday, Manhattan maintains a 16-14 advantage in the all-time series between the teams.

Through 18 games, Manhattan is scoring 68.4 ppg while allowing 69.2 ppg to the opposition. The Jaspers only have two double-digit scorers in the lineup, and Antoine Pearson leads the charge with 12.2 ppg. As for Devon Austin, he is contributing 10.3 ppg despite his 39.4 field goal efficiency. Manhattan far exceeded its average offensive output in Saturday's clash with Rider, posting 82 points on 52 percent shooting from the floor. The Jaspers hit 11 three- pointers and scored 19 points from the foul line, but it still wasn't enough to avoid defeat. Pearson and Austin both scored 17 points in the clash, while Nick Walsh pitched in 15 points. Patrick Bouli, Brandon Adams and Laurence Jolicoeur all had 10 points in the contest. Unfortunately, poor defense did the Jaspers in, as they permitted the Broncs to shoot 65.3 percent from the field.

Rider relies heavily on a pair of Thompsons, Jason and Ryan, to be productive at the offensive end of the court. Jason Thompson currently leads the team with 19.9 ppg on 54.8 percent shooting from the floor, and he is pulling down 11.2 rpg to go along with 54 blocked shots. As for Ryan Thompson, he checks in with 15.6 ppg on 55.9 percent field goal efficiency. The third and final double- digit scorer in the mix is Harris Mansell, as he is contributing 13.5 ppg. Rider is scoring 76.6 ppg while limiting the opposition to 68.7 ppg on 40.8 percent overall shooting. In the win over Iona on Monday, a 25-11 advantage in points from the foul line proved to be the difference. Mansell scored 21 points in that tilt, while Ryan Thompson managed 20 points. As for Jason Thompson, he scored 11 points to go along with seven rebounds, six blocks and four steals.

Considering Rider just beat Manhattan on the road, a home win is likely as well. Expect the Broncs to jump on top early and never look back.