Kevin Baggett was named MAAC Coach of the Year. (John Blaine Photo)

Kevin Baggett picked up his first piece of hardware.

Rider’s third-year boss was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Friday night at the league’s annual banquet.

The Broncs were tabbed seventh in the conference’s preseason poll, but Baggett guided them to 21 regular-season victories, which are two shy of matching the program’s high-water mark of 23. Rider’s 15 league wins were also the most since joining the MAAC in 1997.


There could be another award in Baggett’s future.

 He should be named a finalist for the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year presented by CollegeInsider.com. The Ben Jobe award is given to the top minority head coach in Division I.
Baggett was a finalist for the award in 2013 after guiding the Broncs to 19 wins in his debut season.

This is what happens when you're in Texas Roadhouse and your head coach wins Coach of the Year. #RiderMBB #NoExcuses

A video posted by Rider U. Men's Basketball (@ridermbb) on Mar 6, 2015 at 6:33pm PST

Junior guard Zedric Sadler earned Co-Sixth Man of the Year honors along with Monmmouth’s Andrew Nicholas.

Sadler has played in all 31 games, coming off the bench in all but seven of them. The Detroit native is averaging 7.8 points and shooting 35.7 percent from long range. He’s also tasked with defending the oppositions best guard.

Iona’s David Laury was named Player of the Year.

Laury, a 6-foot-9 senior forward, averages 20.1 points and 9.5 rebounds. He was also the preseason Player of the Year.

Rider (21-10) begins its quest for the MAAC’s automatic NCAA Tournament berth Saturday evening (5:30 p.m., ESPN3, 107.7 FM The Bronc) against St. Peter’s (15-17).

The Broncs swept the season series from their in-state rival, but the Peacocks are playing well.

John Dunne’s squad beat top-seeded Iona on the final day of the regular season and then dismantled Fairfield in the opening round Thursday night.

SPU held the Stags to 33 points, including seven in the first half.

The Peacocks lead the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 60.1 points per game. That number also ranks 32nd nationally.

Marvin Dominique (13.9) and Desi Washington (13.8) are the leading scorers, but Rider’s done a good job defending the duo in both meetings.

Dominique and Washington have combined for 35 points on 10 of 38 shooting in the two earlier meetings.

Keep an eye on sophomore forward Quadir Welton, who had 15 points and nine rebounds in the second game against could cause problems for the Matt Lopez-less Broncs.

MAAC Awards

Player of the Year: David Laury (Iona)
Coach of the Year: Kevin Baggett (Rider)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ousmane Drame (Quinnipiac)
Rookie of the Year: Schadrac Casimir (Iona)
Sixth Man of the Year: Zedric Sadler (Rider), Andrew Nicholas (Monmouth)