This much is clear in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference: There are no off nights.
If you have one, you will get beat.
That?s why Rider coach Kevin Baggett knows its important to capitalize on the momentum his team picked up after it stunned Monmouth, 93-90, in overtime last Saturday.
?Night in and night out, we?re going to have to take the best punch,? Baggett said, ?because our league, from top to bottom, is good.?
The Broncs (9-5, 2-1) travel to Marist (5-10, 2-2) on Friday night (7 p.m., ESPN3, 107.7 FM The Bronc) with a chance to keep pace in a crowded MAAC field.
The Red Foxes are coming off an overtime victory of their own, besting Manhattan, 90-88, on Monday, a win that snapped a six-game losing streak.
Rider has dominated the series of late, winning 14 of the last 17 meetings, including a 6-2 mark under Baggett. Marist, however, won the most recent meeting, 71-58, and should have swept the season series if not for a dramatic Broncs rally at the end of regulation in Lawrenceville to force overtime, a contest the home team eventually took, 102-100, in double OT.
In that Red Foxes victory, Kristinn Palsson hit on 7-for-9 from the field, including five 3s for 19 points. Now a sophomore, Palsson is averaging just 4.4 points per game, and suffice to say, that simply can?t happen again if Rider is to walk out of McCann Arena with a nation-leading seventh road win.
Khallid Hart, a redshirt senior, remains Marist?s most dangerous player, averaging 16.5 points in 35.8 minutes per contest.
While the Broncs? starting five all average in double figures, led by Jimmie Taylor at 13.8 points and Khalil Thomas at 13.1, the three guys coming off the bench have to give solid minutes with only nine available players and eight in the regular rotation.
Baggett praised the efforts of Kelean Washington-Ives, Anthony Durham and Tyere Marshall after they combined for 16 points, 12 rebounds and four steals in the win over Monmouth.
?Those guys are going to need to play for us to be good,? Baggett said. ?We obviously know our starting five is talented, but we need the guys on the bench to be able to give us a lift. ... Those guys are confident. They show up to practice everyday the right way, they work hard, and it?s good to see those guys have the success they are having.?
If you have one, you will get beat.
That?s why Rider coach Kevin Baggett knows its important to capitalize on the momentum his team picked up after it stunned Monmouth, 93-90, in overtime last Saturday.
?Night in and night out, we?re going to have to take the best punch,? Baggett said, ?because our league, from top to bottom, is good.?
The Broncs (9-5, 2-1) travel to Marist (5-10, 2-2) on Friday night (7 p.m., ESPN3, 107.7 FM The Bronc) with a chance to keep pace in a crowded MAAC field.
The Red Foxes are coming off an overtime victory of their own, besting Manhattan, 90-88, on Monday, a win that snapped a six-game losing streak.
Rider has dominated the series of late, winning 14 of the last 17 meetings, including a 6-2 mark under Baggett. Marist, however, won the most recent meeting, 71-58, and should have swept the season series if not for a dramatic Broncs rally at the end of regulation in Lawrenceville to force overtime, a contest the home team eventually took, 102-100, in double OT.
In that Red Foxes victory, Kristinn Palsson hit on 7-for-9 from the field, including five 3s for 19 points. Now a sophomore, Palsson is averaging just 4.4 points per game, and suffice to say, that simply can?t happen again if Rider is to walk out of McCann Arena with a nation-leading seventh road win.
Khallid Hart, a redshirt senior, remains Marist?s most dangerous player, averaging 16.5 points in 35.8 minutes per contest.
While the Broncs? starting five all average in double figures, led by Jimmie Taylor at 13.8 points and Khalil Thomas at 13.1, the three guys coming off the bench have to give solid minutes with only nine available players and eight in the regular rotation.
Baggett praised the efforts of Kelean Washington-Ives, Anthony Durham and Tyere Marshall after they combined for 16 points, 12 rebounds and four steals in the win over Monmouth.
?Those guys are going to need to play for us to be good,? Baggett said. ?We obviously know our starting five is talented, but we need the guys on the bench to be able to give us a lift. ... Those guys are confident. They show up to practice everyday the right way, they work hard, and it?s good to see those guys have the success they are having.?
