Men’s College Basketball: Rider University 72, Niagara University 69

LAWRENCEVILLE — Junior Anthony Myles (Dover, DE/Poly-Tech) scored 23 points, tying his career-high, and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Rider to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over first place Niagara Thursday evening (Feb. 7).

Rider senior Jonathon Thompson (Orlando, Fla./Jones) added 18 points, making four of six foul shots in the final 24 seconds to preserve the victory. Thompson was eight for 11 from teh field for the game.

Rider junior Daniel Stewart (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) compiled 14 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth ‘double-double’ of the season and the 12^th of his career.

With the win Rider (13-12, 8-5 MAAC) has now won seven of its last 10 games.

Niagara (14-10, 10-3 MAAC) has not won in Rider’s Alumni Gym since the 2006-07 season. Rider has now won six of the last seven games with Niagara and eight of the last 11.

Rider out-scored Niagara 13-4 to start the second half, five points by Stewart, to take a 39-34 lead with 15:19 left to play.

Niagara led 30-26 at the half.

Myles scored nine of Rider’s first 13 points, with three dunks and a three-point field goal.

Niagara sophomore guard Ameen Tanksley, who averages 10.9 points per game, scored a career-high 29 points.  Tanksley had seven of Niagara’s first 12 points and 11 of the first 25 Purple Eagle points.

When Niagara visited Rider last year the Broncs came back from a 17-point second half deficit to win 74-73 on Super Bowl Sunday.

Niagara sophomore guard Juan’ya Green, who is adding 16.7 points per game, was held scoreless the first half and finished with seven points, finishing 1 for 16 from the field.

On Saturday Rider travels to New Rochelle, N.Y., to take on Iona in a game broadcast on ESPN3.