Kevin Baggett is going back to the drawing board against Monmouth/ Photo by JOHN BLAINE

 Quick reaction: Nobody lit the gym on fire but Stony Brook did enough to win, making big shots and clutch free throws down the stretch. Rider again played well enough to win defensively -- forcing 21 turnovers -- and if it continues to do that it will give itself an opportunity in every game. The Broncs went 9:40 without a point in the first half and that didn't help their cause, but they rallied back from 11 down in the second half and when they tied it at 41 you really thought they would push on and take it. Kevin Baggett said he would go back to the drawing board for Saturday's game with Monmouth -- the last of three straight at home to open -- and he will ask for a more complete performance.


Stud of the game: The Stony Brook duo of Dave Coley and Anthony Jackson made the two biggest shots of the morning. Coley connected out of a timeout after Rider had tied it at 41 and after the Broncs missed a layup, Jackson calmly knocked in a jumper with the shot clock winding down. You could feel the air come out of a rocking Alumni Gym.

"We have a lot of faith in those two junior guards," coach Steve Pikiell said. "They've been in that spot before and like taking big shots."

Both Coley and Jackson finished with with 12 points.

Dud of the game: Rider forwards Danny Stewart, Junior Fortunat and Dera Nd-Ezuma combined for just seven points. Stewart had a rough morning, shooting 1 of 9, although he tried to attack the basket. Fortunat got in early foul trouble -- his second early in the first was a questionable call -- and was out-muscled by Jameel Warney (nine points, nine rebounds) for a key offensive rebound late in the game.

"You can't win many games when you can't score inside," coach Kevin Baggett said. 

Baggett also wants them to do a better job on the boards after getting out-rebounded, 35-27.

"We didn't block out well enough," Baggett said. "My bigs have tendency to just thing they're going to out-rebound guys, but they have to put a body on guys."

AROUND THE MAAC

Fairfield 62, Penn 53: Good to see Derek Needham back from his broken foot and playing well. He had 14 points and the Stags never trailed.

Niagara 86, St. Francis (Pa.) 69: The Purple Eagles have no problem filling it up. Antoine Mason had 25 points.