Who: Rider (4-3) at Pacific (3-5)

When: Saturday, 10:30 p.m., Stockton Arena, Stockton, California

TV/ Radio: None/ 107.7 FM The Bronc

Last Time Out: Rider def. Siena, 71-69; Pacific lost to UMass, 72-48

Series History: First Meeting

Background: This is the first of four games in the Gotham Classic for Rider, which hosts Kennesaw State on Dec. 14 before travelling to North Carolina A&T on Dec. 18 and UMass on Dec. 22.


X-Factor: Xavier Lundy is quietly going about his business with a solid senior campaign. The former Paulsboro High star leads the Broncs in scoring at 13.4 points and is coming off a 20-point effort in the win over Siena. Lundy said his mindset now is to put together a complete 40-minute performance. He tends to start off hot before fading in the second half, but made strides toward that against the Saints, when he came up with a tough basket that gave Rider the lead late in the second half.

That 70s Show: Seventy has been the magic number thus far for the Broncs. When they hold the opposition below the 70-point threshold, they are 4-0 . When they don’t, well, 0-3.

Scouting Pacific: The Tigers, under first-year coach Damon Stoudamire, have lost three of their last four and are coming off their worst offensive showing to do date, scoring just 48 points at UMass. Ray Bowles paces Pacific at 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while T.J. Wallace has added 13.1 points and a team-leading 2.6 assists. He’s also made an efficient 9-of-17 from long range. The Tigers are 3-0 at home, however, this game will be played at the off-campus Stockton Arena where they haven’t played since a 79-54 loss to California on Dec. 9, 2009.