Bronx Insider: Sports Desk: Manhattan Edged by Rider Tuesday Night.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Manhattan Edged by Rider Tuesday Night.

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – In a game that featured 15 ties and 12 lead changes, Manhattan fell 76-67 on Tuesday night at Rider.

 
Jose Perez had a game-high 26 points, and Josh Roberts recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds for Manhattan (11-10, 4-8 MAAC), but the Jaspers could not get past the balanced scoring from Rider (9-13, 5-7).

The Broncs had six players score. However, four were in double figures, Dwight Murray Jr. had 21, and Dimencio Vaughn had 20 for the home side.

Neither team created separation over the first 30 minutes of the game, with no lead being more than six.

Romar Reid tied the game at the first-half horn on a 3-pointer. The game would then be tied three more times in the first four minutes of the second half.

With just over 12 minutes to go, Rider was able to put together an 8-0 run to take a 58-53 lead, with Allen Powell accounting for six during the stretch. The Jaspers would cut the deficit to lead to a Perez triple with 6:51 remaining to make it 62-61 Rider.

Rider scored five straight points to make it 70-63 with three minutes to play before extending the lead to as many as nine inside the final 90 seconds.

In the first half, Manhattan went 7-13 from 3-point range and limited Rider to 3-9 shooting from deep. The Jaspers could not overcome the Broncs shooting 50-percent from the floor despite not hitting a 3-pointer.

Perez’s 26 points were his 11th game over 20 this season, which leads the MAAC. Roberts’ double-double was his second. The 12 rebounds are a season-high. Ant Nelson added eight points, five assists, three steals, and two blocks.

Manhattan’s next game is against Monmouth inside Draddy Gymnasium on Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN3.