Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. ? Rider guard Harris Mansell scored 14 second half points helping the Broncs escape with a 76-73 win over Manhattan (4-3, 1-1 MAAC) this afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium. Jaspers' senior Devon Austin led all scorers with a season-high 24 points, marking his second straight 20-point performance.
Manhattan carried a 34-31 advantage into intermission behind 19 points from Austin. He was 7-for-10 from the field and drained three 3-pointers in the first half.
The Jaspers led by as many as eight points early in the second half courtesy of an initial scoring burst. Antoine Pearson found his shooting touch and gave Manhattan a 46-38 lead with a lay-up through traffic with 15:45 remaining.
Pearson erupted for 14 second half points and was 5-for-9 from beyond the arc in the contest. It marked the second time in his career he knocked down five treys in a game.
Rider (4-2, 1-0 MAAC) rallied behind Mansell who was held scoreless in the first half. With 8:47 remaining, Mansell tied the game at 58 with a lay-up. Two possessions later, reserve guard Matt Griffin sank a 3-pointer which gave the Broncs a 61-58 edge. It marked Griffin's sole field goal of the contest.
The Jaspers kept it to a single digit disadvantage the rest of the way and cut the lead to 74-73 on Pearson's fifth 3-pointer of the game with seven seconds remaining. He finished with 19 points, a season-high.
Broncs' guard Lamar Johnson sank two more free-throws which were enough to hold off the Jaspers. Johnson recorded 16 points.
Manhattan forward Andrew Gabriel set season-highs in points (14) and rebounds (8). Teammate Chris Smith also registered season-highs in rebounding (7) and assists (4).
Broncs' big man Mike Ringgold scored 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.
Rider shot 52% (26-50) and 42.9% (6-14) from 3-point territory. Manhattan was 40.3% (25-62) from the field.
Manhattan takes a break for final exams and will return to action next Sunday versus Princeton at 4 p.m. in Riverdale.
