NEWARK, DE – Junior forward Jason Thompson led a hot-shooting effort by Rider as he scored a game-high 27 points and pulled nine rebounds to lead the Broncs to a 77-67 non-league men’s basketball win over host University of Delaware Tuesday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Thompson hit 10 of 14 shots from the field as Rider (2-1) shot 58 percent from the field for the game and converted 7 of 11 three-point shots. Guards Terrance Mouton and Harris Mansell combined for 37 points and five three-pointers to aid the Rider effort.

Delaware (0-3), off to an 0-3 start for the first time since the 1990-91 season, pulled to within two points early in the second half but could never get ahead in losing its fourth straight home game since last season. Senior guard Calvin Cannon (at right), playing his first game of the season after sitting out the first two contests due to a team rule violation, scored a team-high 19 points and hit three three-pointers.

Herb Courtney added 13 points and a team-high six rebounds and Darrell Johnson added 11 points and five rebounds for the Blue Hens. Delaware committed just 10 turnovers but could not overcome 39 percent shooting from the field (24 of 61) and a 35-26 Rider advantage on the boards.

Mansell connected on all four of his three-point attempts and hit on 7 of 12 free throws to finish with 19 points while also pulling seven rebounds for the Broncs while Mouton added 18 points and four assists. Thompson also added four assists and two blocks.

Delaware led early but Rider’s Mouton hit a three-pointer with 15:08 left in the opening half to give Broncs the lead for good at 11-9. Rider led by as many as 15 points in the opening 20 minutes, going up 35-20 on a Mouton layup with 3:32 remaining, before a late Delaware flurry cut the margin to 39-30 at the break. The Hens had cut the lead to seven, but Mouton scored just before the halftime buzzer to increase the lead.

The Blue Hens came out of the gates fast in the second half, outscoring Rider 9-2 over the first two minutes to cut the lead to 41-39 with 17:46 left on a three-pointer by Darrell Johnson. But Rider answered with a 12-2 run of its own, thanks to back to back three-pointers from Mansell and Mouton, to go up 53-41 with 13:04 left and never looked back.

Delaware cut the lead to single digits at 57-48 with 10:32 left to play, but Rider answered again with an 8-2 run to take control at 65-50 with 6:46 to go. The Hens cut the lead to 71-64 with 1:18 left, but Rider converted six free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

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