Rider rips Niagara to go to 4-0 in MAAC

The six hour bus ride home from Western New York won’t seem nearly as long after sweeping the longest road trip in the league.

Tyere Marshall scored 22 points to pace six different players scored in double figures and Rider erupted for 68 second-half points in a 104-84 victory over Niagara at the Taps Gallagher Center on Sunday afternoon.

The first-place Broncs (9-7, 4-0) won their fourth straight game and are 4-0 in the MAAC for the first time since the 2000-01 team opened 6-0.

“I thought our guys did a good job of showing up today and playing for 40 minutes,” coach Kevin Baggett said on his postgame radio interview. “Even when they cut the lead to two at half, I felt good about where we were with things. I just like where we’re headed. Now we’ve got Dimencio (Vaughn) back and guys are really falling into place, buying into defending.”

Rider trailed by one after Niagara opened the second half with a 3-pointer, but then proceeded to carve up the Purple Eagles’ defense for 68 points at a 73.7 percent clip from the field. The Broncs have outscored MAAC opponents 199-141 (+58) in the second half.

“The last two second halves have been unbelievable for us, so hopefully we can build on that,” Baggett said. “It’s good to see a number of guys play better.”

Marshall turned in one of the best games in his career by connecting on 7-or-11 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the free throw line to get to his 22 points. The junior also grabbed 14 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

Jordan Allen knocked down a corner 3-pointer shortly after coming into the game in the second half, and that seemed to reignite his shooting stroke as he went on to hit four 3s and go 6-of-11 from the field for 16 points.

Stevie Jordan (14), Frederick Scott (14), Kimar Williams (14) and Anthony Durham (12) also finished in double figures. Jordan also dished out eight assists against one turnover.

Rider made nine 3-pointers, two more than it made in its first three league games combined, and shot 13for-17 from the line.

Keleaf Tate finished with 19 points and James Towns had 15 for Niagara (8-9, 1-3).

The Broncs return to action Saturday night when they host Manhattan.