The Rider Broncs and the Iona Gaels meet in college basketball action from the Hynes Athletics Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Rider Broncs will try to snap a three-game losing streak after a 68-63 loss to Siena in their last matchup. Dwight Murray Jr. leads Rider in scoring with 16.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 3 APG while Allen Powell has 10.1 PPG and Mervin James also has 12.5 PPG with a team-high 7.1 RPG for the Broncs to round out the scoring in double figures for Rider as the Broncs’ top rebounder. As a team, Rider is averaging 69.6 PPG on 43.3% shooting from the field, 31.8% from three and 74.5% from the foul line this season.
The Iona Gaels will look to build on their 75-69 win over Fairfield in their last matchup. Daniss Jenkins leads the Gaels in scoring and assists with 16.4 PPG and 4.8 APG along with 4.7 RPG. Walter Clayton Jr. has 16.1 PPG with 4.4 RPG and 2.9 APG while Nelly Junior Joseph has 15.5 PPG with a team-high 8.4 RPG. Quinn Slazinski has 11.3 PPG with 5.7 RPG in seven games as well to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Iona up to this point in the year. As a team, Iona is averaging 76.5 PPG on 46.2% shooting from the field, 33.9% from three and 74.4% from the foul line this season.
Rider is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against a team with a winning record while the under is 4-0 in their last 4 games overall. Iona is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games against a team with a losing road record while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games against a team with a losing record.
I get the case to be made for Rider here as the Broncs have performed well in spots and Iona hasn’t looked as dominant in some of their recent games at home. However, Iona is still one of the best, if not the best team in the MAAC this season, and I just feel like this is a good spot for Iona to save some face and I think that the Gaels bag a big win and cover at home. Give me the Gaels laying the points.