RIDER GAMEDAY

Who: Rider (7-7, 2-0) at Canisius (5-9, 2-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m., Koessler Athletic Center, Buffalo, N.Y.

TV/ Radio: ESPN+/ 107.7 FM The Bronc Last Time Out: Rider def. Quinnipiac, 7267; Canisius lost to Brown, 97-90 in OT Series History: Rider leads, 35-13 Background: The last time these two met, the Broncs held on for a one-point win that gave them the inside track to the MAAC regular season title. This, the first of two meetings, could once again go a long way toward deciding who gets the No. 1 seed. Both are 2-0 in the conference following some rocky performances in the non-league and the winner on Friday night would be in early pole position. Keep Shooting: Jordan Allen’s hit a bit of a shooting slump, going 5-for-22 over the last three games. He missed on his first seven attempts against Quinnipiac before connecting on a huge corner 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining to give the Broncs a 3-point lead. Even with this recent cold streak, Allen is still shooting the 3 at 40.8 percent. Look for him to bounce back this weekend. Defending the Perimeter: Rider has to do a better job guarding the 3-point line. It has given up double-digit 3-pointers in each of the last three games. Both Fairfield and VCU shot over 45 percent from deep against the Broncs, while Quinnipiac was held to a more manageable 36.4 percent with its 12 makes coming on 33 attempts.

Own the Paint: Rider outscored MAAC opponents last season by 12 points per game in the paint (40.6-28.1) and that trend has continued in its first two league game. The Broncs are plus-20 points per game in those two contests.

Scouting Canisius: Reggie Witherspoon’s Golden Griffins were picked to finish second in the MAAC behind the Broncs in the preseason poll. Rider, Canisius and Iona are the three teams to start 2-0 in the league. Canisius boasts two explosive players in preseason Player of the Year Isaiah Reese (12 pts, 5.9 reb) and leading scorer Takal Molson (17.1 pts, 39 percent shooting). The Griffs are only connecting at a 29.5 percent rate from beyond the arc (Reese has struggled to find his outside shot at 31.1 percent), but that hasn’t stopped past Rider opponents from having a break out day against a swiss cheese perimeter defense. If the Broncs can plug those wholes then they can come away with a victory.