LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Interstat) — In a season defined by narrow defeats, the Rider Broncs finally found a way to close. Flash Burton’s deep 3-pointer as time expired Sunday lifted Rider to an 81-78 victory over Saint Peter’s in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball thriller at Alumni Gymnasium.

Burton, a 6-foot-3 guard from Philadelphia, took an inbounds pass from Zion Cruz with 9 seconds remaining, dribbled up the left side against tight defense from Saint Peter’s Bryce Eaton, stepped back just beyond the arc and swished the game-winner as the horn sounded. The shot sent the home crowd of 1,014 into a frenzy and snapped Rider’s seven-game losing streak, improving the Broncs to 3-18 overall. Saint Peter’s fell to 12-8.

The dramatic finish capped a back-and-forth second half that saw neither team lead by more than five points. The contest was tied at 78 after Saint Peter’s Brent Bland missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with just over a minute to play. Following a Rider timeout, the Broncs ran the clock down for a final shot. Burton’s initial jumper from the left wing was blocked by Eaton, but the ball caromed out of bounds off a Saint Peter’s player with 1.1 seconds left, setting the stage for the final sequence.

Burton finished with a game-high 25 points, including 16 in the second half, to go with six rebounds. He was instrumental down the stretch, scoring 10 of Rider’s final 13 points. His clutch performance contrasted with recent outings where the Broncs struggled to finish games, including a five-point loss at Manhattan just three days prior.

The game was a stark reversal from the teams’ meeting on Jan. 17, which Saint Peter’s won by 11 points. This time, Rider’s efficiency from the floor and the free-throw line proved decisive. The Broncs shot 50% from the field, including a blistering 9 of 15 from 3-point range, and converted 22 of 24 free throws. Saint Peter’s, despite attempting 14 more field goals, shot 45.3% and made only 10 of 15 from the foul line.

Saint Peter’s was led by Brent Bland’s 20 points, while Bryce Eaton added 15 and Lucas Scroggins posted eight points and 10 rebounds. The Peacocks dominated the offensive glass, 14-6, and forced 10 Rider turnovers, but could not overcome the Broncs’ superior shooting.

The first half set the tone for a tight battle, with Saint Peter’s taking a 40-39 lead into the break. The Peacocks opened the game with a 7-0 run, but Rider responded with a 10-2 spurt of its own, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from AB Coulibaly. The half featured seven ties and neither team led by more than seven points.

Rider’s Davis Bynum provided crucial interior support with 11 points and five rebounds, while Cruz, a Trenton native, added 16 points, including several key free throws late. Shemani Fuller contributed eight points, three rebounds and two blocks, including a pivotal swat on Zaakir Williamson with under six minutes remaining to protect a slim lead.

The most important phase of the game unfolded in the final five minutes. With Rider leading 68-66, Burton hit a step-back 3-pointer to push the lead to five. Eaton answered with a floating jumper for Saint Peter’s, but Burton drew a foul on the ensuing possession and sank two free throws. After a Saint Peter’s turnover, Cruz connected on a corner 3-pointer off a Burton assist, giving Rider its largest lead of the half at 75-68 with 2:21 to play.

Saint Peter’s, demonstrating the resilience that has defined its season, mounted a final charge. A driving layup by Eaton and a corner 3-pointer from Jahki Gupton, set up by Eaton, quickly cut the deficit to 75-73. Following a Rider miss, Eaton then drilled a contested, off-balance 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to tie the game at 78, seemingly forcing overtime before Burton’s heroics.

The victory provides a massive morale boost for a young Rider team that entered the game with the nation’s third-worst record according to several metrics. For Saint Peter’s, a team with MAAC title aspirations, the loss serves as a road setback against a determined opponent it had beaten handily just two weeks prior.

Rider next travels to face Marist on Thursday. Saint Peter’s looks to rebound at Manhattan on Thursday.