LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- All-American candidate Harding Nana (right) scored 28 points and matched a career-high with 19 rebounds and Delaware converted nearly 55 percent of its shots from the field, but the Blue Hens could not overcome a 25-point disparity at the foul line and dropped an 89-84 non-league men’s basketball verdict to host Rider Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym.

The Blue Hens (2-6) closed out their season-opening eight-game road trip by falling for the sixth straight game despite Nana’s big game and 13 points from guard Zaire Taylor. Delaware lost at Rider for the sixth straight time since 1989-90.

Rider, which improved to 3-4, placed four scorers in double figures led by forward Edwin Muniz, who hit for 27 points, including the 1,000th point of his career. Muniz connected on three three-pointers and hit all 10 of his free throws as the Broncs outscored the Hens 29-4 from the charity stripe. Guard Terrance Mouton added 18 points, Lamar Johnson added 16 points off the bench, including four three-pointers, and Jason Thompson pitched in with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Nana hit on 12 of 18 shots from the field, including three three-pointers to fall two shy of his career high for points. He also dished out four assists. Taylor added 13 points, including three three-pointers, to go with five assists while Herb Courtney (12 points) and Andrew Washington (10 points) combined for 22 points off the bench. The Hens converted 35 of 64 shots from the field, including 21 of 36 in the second half (.583) but managed to hit just four of seven shots from the foul line, including no attempts in the second half.

“We played hard tonight but we ran into a hot-shooting team,” said Delaware head coach David Henderson of Rider’s 51 percent shooting (25 of 49) and 10 three pointers. “We also shot the ball well but we sent them to the foul line too much. We are frustrated because we feel we’re a lot better team than what we’ve showed.”

The Blue Hens will end their longest season-opening road swing in school history Monday, Dec. 19 when the Hens host UNC Greensboro at the Bob Carpenter Center. Delaware will not be in action for the next eight days due to final exams.

The closely fought game featured six lead changes and nine ties in the first half before two free throws by Muniz with 23 seconds left in the frame sent the Broncs into halftime up 39-37. Delaware led by as much as five points in the opening stanza at 17-12 before the Broncs regrouped.

Nana hit a three-pointer five minutes into the second half as the Hens regained the lead at 51-50, but Rider answered and stayed in front for vcthe next eight minutes until Delaware tied the score at 66-66 on a layup by Raphael Madera with 7:27 to go.

But the Broncs followed with a pivotal stretch that put the game away as they outscored the Hens 18-6 over the next four minutes and 24 seconds, scoring eight straight points at one point, to take their biggest lead of the day at 84-72. Johnson scored eight points during the stretch, including two three-pointers, and Mouton added five point to key the run. Delaware never got closer than five points after that.

Delaware dished out a season-high 21 assists for the game, the Blue Hens’ highest output since posting 21 assists in a win over Siena on Dec. 23, 2003. The Hens played without senior guard Rulon Washington who injured his shoulder in practice this past week.

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