Julius Coles scored 20 points for the Griffs.

When Rider suffered a double-digit loss last year at Canisius, it was a clear example of a letdown game, one in which a more talented and polished team lost because it turned in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance.

Last night’s game at the Koessler Center in Buffalo was different.

The result was similar — a 74-58 Canisius win — but this time, it was the continuation of a season-long trend for Rider, a team whose season is spiraling out of control.

The Broncs (10-11 overall, 3-6 MAAC) are only half-way through their MAAC schedule, but already have the same number of losses they had all of last year.

The Broncs, losers of three straight and six of their last eight, would need to win nine straight in the league just to equal the 12-6 record they finished with last year.

They’re below .500 for the first time this season and alone in seventh place in the 10-team MAAC — a scenario that seemed impossible at the outset of the season.

Frank Turner scored 21 points and Julius Coles scored 20 for the Golden Griffins, who have come a long way since a team composed of many of the same players suffered a 102-51 loss at Rider in 2007-08.

Justin Robinson scored 19 points, 16 in the first half, to lead Rider, which trailed only 39-38 at the half but quickly let the game slip away after that.

Ryan Thompson struggled again, finishing with 10 points on 2-for-10 shooting. Thompson and Robinson were the only players in double figures for Rider, which plays at Niagara tomorrow.
Carl Johnson’s jumper gave Rider an 18-13 lead, but the Golden Griffs answered with a 22-10 run to take a 35-28 lead on a pair of Turner free throws with 4:27 left in the first half.

Rider responded with a 10-4 run to close the half, but trailed at the break despite shooting 50 percent (6-for-12) from 3.

The Golden Griffs (10-10, 5-4) opened the half on a 10-3 run to take command, and never trailed by fewer than six after the opening minutes of the second half.