Kahlil Thomas has missed the last 11 games. (John Blaine Photo)

Rider head coach Kevin Baggett said he expects sophomore forward Kahlil Thomas to be available Thursday night when the Broncs host Fairfield.

Thomas has missed the last 11 games with a stress fracture in his left foot suffered Dec. 18 against Morgan State.

"He fits big into our mix," Baggett said. "We have another guys who can come in rebound, defend, score in the paint for us. ... It's certainly a welcome addition to have him back." 

Prior to his injury, Thomas, a 6-7 forward, started all 12 of Rider's games, averaging 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds.

Baggett cautioned not to expect to much too soon.

"He hasn't really done anything for me to just wheel him out there," Baggett said. "We'll see. His condition isn't very good. He hasn't been much involved with us other than trying to get himself rehabilitated."

The Broncs are coming off a 79-72 setback at Siena, which snapped their seven-game road winning streak.

The game went ahead despite a winter storm dumping a foot of snow in the Albany, New York area. That made for a much smaller crowd than what usually shows up to support the Saints at the Times Union Center.

"I would say it was a little surreal in there," Siena coach Jimmy Patsos said. "It was almost like an exhibition-scrimmage type game, yet it was obviously a real game. I was really pleased with the people that did come up, but it was definitely a different type of atmosphere."

Rider (14-9, 8-4) plays five of its final eight games at home, beginning against the Stags (6-15, 4-7) Thursday night in the second game of a women's/men's doubleheader. The women kick the night off vs. Siena at 5 p.m.

"Last year, we had something similar to that and we lost seven of the last eight," Baggett said. "I'm certainly hoping that being home, we'll take advantage of that."