Shorthanded Rider comes up short in Vegas finale
Playing without its two first team All-MAAC players, Rider nearly left Las Vegas with a split.
But luck finally ran out. Darius Brown made two free throws with 10 seconds left, the Broncs had two attempts at the basket come up short and Cal State Northridge won the mid-major championship game of the Continental Tires Las Vegas Classic, 81-80, at the Orleans Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Coach Kevin Baggett was animated in his postgame radio comments after Rider committed a silly touch foul on the perimeter and then didn’t get a call on the other end when Jordan Allen was hit on his shot attempt.
“There are no if, ands or buts, it’s a dumb play to foul,” Baggett said regarding his team’s defensive lapse, before launching into a scathing rebuke of the officiating.
“I never really get on the air and talk about refs, but I’m tired now,” he said. I’m tired of these refs all year long . ... It’s been costing us all year long. I felt like I’m not getting calls. On that last play when Jordan Allen drove, excuse me for raising my voice, was a foul. They got to call those and they got to let these kids win the game. I’m tired of watching them dictate what should happen.”
The Broncs (5-6) played without Stevie Jordan (coach’s decision) and Dimencio Vaughn (ankle) and almost came away with a victory after they trailed by seven with 2:16 remaining.
Frederick Scott, inserted into the starting lineup in place of Vaughn, scored 21 points and made 11 of his 12 free throw attempts. Scott connected on his first 11 free throws but split a pair with 16 seconds left. That left Rider with an 80-79 lead.
Devine Eke fouled Brown on the perimeter and he made both free throws to give CSUN a one-point edged. Kimar Williams raced the ball down court and pitched it back to Allen, who Baggett thought got fouled on his attempt. Tyere Marshall couldn’t get the follow-up to fall.
“At the end of the day, we shouldn’t have made the foul,” Baggett said. “We don’t even need to be in that position if we just guard and do what we’re supposed to do.
“I thought Jordan should have just raised up for the shot, but he didn’t. He drove it and drew contact and there was no call.”
The Broncs’ free throw shooting, long an Achilles’ heel, kept them in the game as they made 22-of-28. They also committed a season-low six turnovers.
Allen finished with 17 points and Marshall netted 13.
Lamine Diane scored a game-high 24 points and Terrell Gomez added 21 for the Matadors (5-8).
Rider went 1-3 on this road trip that took it over 8,000 miles and finish nonconference play on Dec. 30 at Virginia Commonwealth.
“We’re two men down and I’m proud of our guys what they did,” Baggett said. “I just don’t like the ending of it. They fought.”