The Rider men’s basketball team dug itself a 22-point hole that it couldn’t get out of despite a furious rally in the final 12 minutes, falling to Siena, 83-79 Thursday night at the Times Union Center.

Brandon Penn hit a 3-pointer with 1:56 remaining to pull the Broncs within 75-71 but they could never get the game down to a single possession.

Siena (8-8, 3-3) hit eight of its final 12 free throws to keep Rider (6-12, 3-3) from getting any closer.


Behind the nation’s leading rebounder, OD Anosike, the Saints pounded the Broncs on the boards in the first half.

Anosike scored 15 of his 23 points in the first half and grabbed eight of his 14 rebounds.
The Saints built a 21-point lead with 2:44 left in the first half on a Brandon Walters (14 points, 12 rebounds) layup.

But Rider closed the half on a 7-0 spurt and opened the second stanza with four more points to pull within 10.

Siena responded with a 17-5 run and took its largest lead — a 22-point advantage — after Anosike converted a 3-point play with 12:06 to go.

The Broncs finally made their move, sparked by Jeff Jones’ 10 points as they outscored Siena 29-13 over the next 10:55 with the stretch ending in Penn’s 3-pointer that made the score 75-71.

Rider even tightened up on the boards, only losing the rebounding battle 42-40.
It was all too little too late.

Penn finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds while Jones led Rider with 17 points.

The Broncs had their three-game winning streak snapped while the Saints won their third straight.