QU Earns Comeback Win vs. Rider in Thriller

Friday, January 5

Hamden, CT

7:30 PM

Quinnipiac University

10-4,2-1MAAC

Rider

3-11,0-3MAAC

Rider

Quinnipiac

Photo by: Farrah Chernov

1/5/2024 10:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Bobcats Erase 15-Point Deficit in Hamden

By: QU Athletic Communications

HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac Men's Basketball erased a 15-point deficit on Friday in Hamden, then held on late to earn an 88-84 win over Rider in a MAAC thriller.

QU outscored the Broncs 56-41 in the second half of action to earn the win. The Bobcats forced nine Rider turnovers over the final 20 minutes.

Matt Balanc led the Bobcats with 29 total points in the victory. Paul Otieno recorded 24 points (career-high) and nine rebounds, and Savion Lewis tallied a career-high 18 assists.

Quinnipiac moves to 10-4 overall (2-1 MAAC) with the victory.

FINAL SCORE
Quinnipiac 88, Rider 84

LOCATION
M&T Bank Arena | Hamden, CT

DATE
JAN. 5, 2024

BALANC GETS BUCKETS 🔥

The Bobcats come from 15 down to take out Rider!#maAChoops24 x @QU_MBB pic.twitter.com/aniQsjk1Te
— #MAACHoops (@MAACHoops) January 6, 2024

QU STAT LEADERS
Points: Matt Balanc 29
Assists: Savion Lewis 18
Rebounds: Paul Otieno 9
Steals: Savion Lewis 3
Blocks: Amarri Tice 2

NOTES

The Bobcats shot 30-of-69 (43.5%) in total. Quinnipiac went 17-of-34 (50.0%) during the second half.
QU knocked down 10 3-pointers, six during the final 20 minutes.
The Bobcats also shot 18-of-22 from the free throw line.
Rider led for 30:38 in total. The Broncs used a 20-0 run during the first half to take a 43-32 lead into the break.
The Bobcats then went on a 12-0 run from 16:04 – 14:26 in the second half, before closing the final 3-plus minutes with a 10-2 run to clinch the league win. Balanc scored seven points over the final 3:04. Quinnipiac outscored Rider 56-41 during the final 20 minutes.
Matt Balanc poured in 29 more points to lead the scoring charge once again for Quinnipiac. He shot 10-of-20 from the field, scoring 21 points during the second half. The graduate student is up to 19.1 PPG, and has 56 points over three MAAC games in 2023-24.
Savion Lewis recorded a career-high 18 assists to go along with 12 points over 38+ minutes. He went 2-for-2 from 3-point distance – marking the first time in his career that he made multiple shots from long range in a contest.
Lewis' 18 helpers are the second largest single-game total of any Division I player this year. The guard dished out 10 assists in the second half along. Lewis leads the country in assists per game (8.1 APG) once again.
Paul Otieno tallied a career-high 24 points and nine rebounds in the win, shooting 10-of-12 from the field. Otieno scored 15 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting in the second half. The senior is shooting 58.7% from the field in '23-24.
Amarri Tice chipped in with 14 points and six rebounds, while Alexis Reyes added five points and five boards.
The Bobcats have now beaten Rider seven straight times dating back to Feb. 20, 2021.
Preseason MAAC Player of the Year Mervin James led Rider with 31 points.