Burton, Fuller Rally Rider Past Niagara 67-62 in Home Finale

Flash Burton and Shemani Fuller combined for 15 of Rider’s final 17 points to lift the Broncs to a 67-62 victory over Niagara on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, according to game reports.

The win capped Rider’s home schedule in what coach Kevin Baggett described as a difficult winter for the program. The game was moved up two hours due to an expected blizzard across the Garden State.

Burton finished with 20 points, marking his eighth game this season and third consecutive contest with at least 20 points, according to team statistics. The performance helped Rider (4-23, 3-15) overcome a late surge by the Purple Eagles (7-21, 4-14).

Niagara appeared poised to steal the victory after going on a 15-0 run that gave them a seven-point lead with 5:18 remaining in the contest. The Purple Eagles’ momentum threatened to hand Rider another late-game collapse in what has been a challenging season for the Broncs.

Fuller emerged as the catalyst for Rider’s comeback, scoring nine of his 16 points in the final five minutes. His jump hook shot stopped Niagara’s run and sparked a 12-2 response by the Broncs.

Burton delivered the game’s decisive blow with a 3-pointer that gave Rider a 62-59 lead with 1:30 remaining on the clock. The senior dedicated the crucial shot to Jimmy Grugan, a senior manager who was honored before the game on Senior Day.

“Jimmy made that shot,” Burton said after the contest. “I didn’t make that shot.”

When asked about taking charge in clutch moments, Burton expressed confidence in his approach.

“I’m going to shoot it every time,” Burton said. “I’m going to have the ball every time and if I think I’m open I’m just going to let it fly and if not I’ll make sure somebody else gets a shot.”

Antwan Wilson helped seal the victory by sinking two free throws with 28 seconds left, extending Rider’s lead to 64-61. Fuller added two more free throws after rebounding a missed 3-pointer to put the game away.

Baggett praised his team’s resilience after enduring numerous close losses throughout the season.

“We’ve just been in this place a lot this year and been on the other side of it,” Baggett said. “To win and pull it out — for our guys to be rewarded for still showing up every day to practice and doing what we are asking them to do and not dropping their heads — credit to all of those guys.”

The victory provides a positive note as Rider prepares to conclude its regular season with road games at Iona and Siena. According to conference standings, the 10-team MAAC Tournament field has been determined, with the Broncs joining Niagara and Canisius as teams that will not participate in postseason play.

However, seeding for the tournament remains undecided heading into the final week of regular season competition across the conference.

The win marked a rare bright spot for a Rider program that has struggled throughout the winter months. Burton’s consistent scoring and Fuller’s timely contributions in the closing minutes demonstrated the potential that has been largely unrealized during a difficult campaign.

For the Broncs, Sunday’s victory represented more than just a number in the win column — it served as validation for a group that has continued to compete despite facing adversity throughout the season.