RIDER GAMEDAY

Who: TV/ Radio:

The Bronc

Last Time Out: Rider lost to VCU, 90-79; Fairfield def. New Hampshire, 63-57

Series History: Fairfield leads, 34-30

Background: After a disappointing non-conference performance, the games that really matter begin on Thursday when the Broncs face the Stags. Of note: The game is being played at Alumni Hall on Fairfield’s campus and not at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.

Road Weary: This will be the final contest of a 6-game road trip in which Rider will tip off in three different time zones and collect 9,545 miles away from home. They are 1-4 on the trip thus far.

Get Ahead, Stay Ahead: Here’s a stat for your. Rider is 5-0 when leading at halftime and 0-7 when trailing.

Getting Defensive: Coach Kevin Baggett wants to see the defense improve in MAAC play. He said the team is giving up too many points, too easily. For Rider’s Kimar Williams (22) attempts a shot as Robert Morris’ Charles Bain (20) tries to defend during a game from earlier this season. example, it allowed VCU, a team shooting 27.2 percent from 3, to connect at a 48 percent rate and make a season-high 14 treys. Still, the 77.2 points per game allowed in non-conference plays is virtually the same as what was conceded in league games last season (77.1). Rider averaged nearly seven fewer points per game in the non-conference than it did in conference play last year. Some of that is certainly down to the brutal travel schedule, but the Broncs have been prone to long scoring lulls, something they need to avoid in the MAAC.

Speaking of the MAAC: There’s no spinning it — the league was awful in nonconference play. Only Niagara (7-6) finished with a record over .500 and the conference ranks as one of the worst nationally. Iona, which has won the last Scouting Fairfield:

JOHN BLAINE — FOR THE TRENTONIAN Rider (5-7, 0-0) at Fairfield (3-9, 0-0)When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Alumni Hall, Fairfield, Conn. ESPN+/ 107.7 FM three MAAC titles (and may end up winning a fourth when all is said and done), has lost seven straight games and starts its league season with a 2-9 record. Monmouth, which was 0-12, finally got its first victory when it recorded the league’s best OOC win by defeating Penn at the Palestra. Go figure. Anyway, somebody has to win the league (it’s in the rules), but it’s probably a smart play for Rich Ensor and co. to start booking the hotel rooms for Dayton.Sydney Johnson’s Stags have been idle since snapping a four-game losing streak against New Hampshire on Dec. 22. Johnson has put together an international roster with nine of the 13 players hailing from outside the United States. Freshman Neftali Alvarez leads the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game, while Landon Taliaferro is a threat from behind the arc at 46.3 percent. Keep an eye on 6-8, 240-pound forward Jonathan Kasibabu (9.9 pts, 7.3 reb). He’s a hard worker who often grabs his team extra possessions with hustle plays.