Zedric Sadler provides a lift off the bench. (Jackie Schear Photo)

As Matt Lopez sees it, coming off the bench has benefited both Zedric Sadler and the Rider men's basketball team.

"When coach re-arranged the lineup, we gave Zedric more freedom," Lopez said. "Now he comes in to create, which is what we need."

Sadler has been in that sixth man role for the past eight games and it's really starting to bare fruit. He's reached double figures in three straight contests, and had 14 in the Broncs' victory over Fairfield Monday night.


"I had to adjust," Sadler said. "I think I've adjusted pretty well and now I think I'm ready to go throughout the rest of the season coming off the bench."

Sadler also isn't afraid to take big shots in important situations.

Against the Stags, he drained a 3-pointer after they cut a 16-point lead to six, then converted a conventional three-point play to put the game out of reach.

He stepped up in made key baskets in the wins over Wagner and Marist, too.

"I trust Zed to make big shots," head coach Kevin Baggett said. "He just has that in him. Now he's healthy and he's playing well. He's settled into his role and he's playing with confidence."

Sadler is averaging 9.5 points per game, while shooting 40 percent (22 of 55) from behind the arc.

NOTES

>> Rider has won five straight for the third different time since Baggett took charge. It had a pair of five-game winning streaks in Baggett's first season. The Broncs go for six in a row when they host Saint Peter's Saturday at 2 p.m. The Peacocks (8-7, 2-2) have won four straight and six of their last seven. They play Manhattan  on Wednesday.

>> Fairfield lost its fifth straight and dropped to 2-2 in the MAAC after a 2-0 start. The Stags, under former Princeton coach Sydney Johnson, are once again struggling to score. They are averaging 60.1 points per game, which ranks 10th in the MAAC and 318th nationally. Only Marist (58.3 ppg) is worse.

>> Rider's 114 steals are the most in the MAAC and its 7.6 per game average is second behind Siena (7.9).