Pregame Notes:
Game Notes (Rider): The Broncs are logging tons of airline miles: Rider beat Robert Morris on Sat. Traveled 2.626 miles for a Monday night loss to Wazzu. Then traveled 1,548 miles here to Des Moines for today's game. Next? 1,415 miles to Las Vegas for 2 games this wknd. Rough.
Game Notes (Drake): The Bulldogs only returned two letterwinners from last season, tied for fewest in the nation with Chattanooga. New Head Coach Darian Devries did an amazing job building a roster in no time, Nick Norton (UAB transfer) and true frosh D.J. Wilkins have been key.
Game Action:
Quick steal to start the game by Nick Norton and pull up three is a brick. Tyere Marshall (Rider) takes the ball the length of the court and scores. After another miss by Drake, Marshall scores again for the Broncs. Kimar Williams for the Bulldogs answers with a three. Then Marshall answers again with a juimper this time. Nick Norton hits a pretty three right in front of me. Rider’s Anthony Durham hits consecutive buckets.
1st Media Timeout: Rider 10, Drake 5
Stevie Jordan keeps things rolling for Rider with a jumper. Nice drive and dish by Drake Frosh Garrett Sturtz to fellow Frosh D.J. Wilkins for three. Drake gets the ball back and tries an alley oop to Tremell Murphy and he is fouled hard by Rider’s Jordan Allen. On the in-bounds, Sturtz makes the Broncs pay with a three ball. Drake right back in it.
2nd Media Timeout: Rider 13, Drake 11
Great ball movement by Drake to get the ball to Nick McGlynn who gets a two hand slam and is fouled. McGlynn completes the three point play. Marshall makes another basket for Rider, he is playing great early and has 10 already. Rider’s Ajeri Ogemuno-Joohnson makes a splash off the bench with a physical put back lay in after getting his own rebound.
3rd Media Timeout: Rider 22, Drake 18
Marshall again makes a jumper, and Williams adds two more for Rider. Wilkins answers with a three ball, nice stroke. After a few misses on each side and a few fouls were back to a media timeout.
4th Media Timeout: Rider 26, Drake 24
When Drake scores I am noticing a common denominator: they move they ball very well. Just happened again as the Bulldogs worked the ball around to Anthony Murphy who was open for three and he buries it. Another solid Drake possession unfortunately leads to a McGlynn miss. Rider’s Marshall pushes the ball down court and finishes again, he has 14 now. After a Rider miss, Nick Norton pushes it and finishes with a layup. Rider doesnt get a good look and we head to Halftime.
Halftime: Drake 29, Rider 28.
McGlynn draws a foul inside to start the second half and connects on one of two. Marshall answers for Rider (been saying that all night already). Norton with a nice driving layup for Drake. Later, in transition, Norton hits an open Wilkins for three. Drake has their largest lead of the night at five. Rider turns it over. After a long possession, Wilkins hits another three to beat the shot clock. A miss by Rider, and a dunk by McGlynn. Timeout Rider, the lead is 10. Rider finally has a good trip down, Jordan Allen connects for two.
1st Media Timeout: Drake 40, Rider 32
Anthony Durham scores right after a bucket by Wilkins. Rider’s Jordan draws a foul and hits both, Drake’s lead is down to six. Dimencio Vaughn draws a foul and makes one free throw. Garrett Sturtz takes his man off the dribble and finshes for a pretty deuce. Marshall answers with another bucket for Rider, he now has 18. Wilkins draws a foul, he is an impressive player for a Freshman. Wilkins makes both free throws. Offensive foul called on Rider’s Frederick Scott. Rider leaves Drake’s Anthony Murphy open for three and he drills it. Wilkins misses a 10 footer, ends up getting the ball again after an offensive rebound and hits a three, he now has 17 points. Allen for Rider then connects on back to back three pointers and is feeling it.
2nd Media Timeout: Drake 52, Rider 48
McGlynn with a nifty hook shoot that rattles around and home for two. Vaughn draws a foul and makes both FT’s. Nick Norton with a nice move to fake his defender and finishes with a layup. Ogemuno-Johnson earns a trip to the line and makes both. Drake lead is at four. Sturtz knifes his way into the lane and finishes. Rider’s Williams called for a crucial travelling, crowd getting somewhat on him. Drake turns it right back over.
3rd Media Timeout: Drake 58, Rider 52
D.J. Wilkins with a big rejection from behind on Marshall. Then Nick Norton connects from deep for Drake. After a Rider turnover, McGlynn hits a three. Rider now trails by 14 and calls timeout. After the break Rider misses twice, and Murphy draws a foul on the other end. He hots one of two. Rider gets a rebound and find Vaughn open for a quick two underneath.
4th Media Timeout: Drake 67, Rider 54
The final sequence was full of some stall tactics by Drake and too many misses by Rider. And that’s gonna do it! here from Des Moines.
Final: Drake 76, Rider 58.
Drake goes to 8-2, great start for them. Rider will need to get their act together prior to MAAC play.