Lawrenceville >> Zedric Sadler had to beg head coach Kevin Baggett to let him be in the dunk contest during Rider's annual Midnight MAACness event held Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

When Baggett finally relented, allowing the junior guard to take part, Sadler went out and won the competition, earning bragging rights over his teammates.

"I never did it," Sadler said. "My freshman I didn't get in it and my second year I was hurt. I just wanted to do it one time and experience it. Now, I have to defend next year."


Students once again packed inside Alumni Gym to welcome the men's and women's basketball teams back to the court.

In addition to the dunk contest, the night featured performances by the cheer and dance teams, and dance interlude by the women's team.

 
"Our guys get excited about it," Baggett said. "It's a chance for us to interact with the student life on campus. They get out there for us and we get out there for them. We certainly hope this will give those guys and girls a chance to know our guys, come back out and support us and be that sixth man we know they are capable of being."

The women's team even brought out their male counterparts to help with the musical number they choreographed.

"The men's and women's teams truly get along here," women's head coach Lynn Milligan said. "For our girls to invite them to be part of their dance and the guys really wanted to be part of it — their were only a couple of them but when they saw how much fun everybody was having they all joined in — but to have two teams at this level to really cheer each other on, it's nice to see."

Added Baggett: "It's an awesome thing. We're in this thing together. Lynn and I are on the same page. I really root for them and they root for us. I'm glad to see our guys to be able to interact and get along with the women. We want nothing but success for them and they want the same for us."

There's a common them to making sure the fans continue to come out and fill up Alumni Gym.

"Win," Baggett said.