Preview: Struggling Rider Faces Mount Saint Mary’s in MAAC Matchup

EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — The Rider Broncs, mired in a difficult season, will look to snap a three-game skid when they visit the Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Knott Arena.

Rider (2-16, 1-6 MAAC) enters with the conference’s worst record, having lost 12 of its last 13 games. Its most recent outing was a 105-85 home loss to Sacred Heart on Monday. The Mountaineers (8-13, 4-4) have been more competitive in league play but are coming off a 77-62 home defeat to Quinnipiac on Thursday.

The game will feature two of the MAAC’s top guards. Rider’s Flash Burton has been a bright spot during the team’s struggles, averaging 20.4 points and 4.9 assists over his last seven games. He is coming off a 21-point, 8-assist performance against Sacred Heart. For Mount Saint Mary’s, Arlandus Keyes provides scoring punch, posting 22 points in a win at Canisius last Saturday and averaging 14.3 points over his last three contests.

The Broncs will need more support for Burton, who accounted for nearly a quarter of the team’s points on Monday. Caleb Smith grabbed 15 rebounds in that loss, offering a potential interior advantage. The Mountaineers, who had won three of four before the Quinnipiac loss, will aim to control the tempo at home, where they are 5-4 this season.

This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams; they will play again at Rider on Feb. 13. Historically, Mount Saint Mary’s holds a 9-7 series edge since both joined the MAAC.

For Rider, the matchup represents a critical opportunity to find a conference road win and build momentum. For the Mountaineers, it is a chance to solidify their standing in the league’s middle tier and rebound from a disappointing performance.

Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 24.