Rider comes back to win at NC A&T

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Kahlil Thomas’ put back with eight seconds left gave Rider a 60-59 win at North Carolina A&T in the Gotham Classic.

Following a Davaris McGowens layup that gave NC A&T a 48-35 lead with 13:38 to play, Rider went on a 17-2 run, capped by a Tyere Marshall layup, to take a 52-50 lead with 5:14 remaining in the second half. With 26 seconds to play, Sam Hunt hit a jumper to give the Aggies a 59-58 lead before Thomas’ heroics won it for the Broncs.

Thomas ended the game with 17 points and seven rebounds. Rider (8-3) also received 10 points from Jimmie Taylor. Rider is now 3-0 in Gotham Classic play. The Broncs, who won at Pacific earlier in the Classic, are just one of two teams in the five-year history of the Gotham Classic to win two road games. In 2013, North Dakota State won at Notre Dame and Bryant.

NC A&T (1-10) is 0-3 in the Gotham Classic with those three losses coming by just 16 points. The Aggies were paced by the 16-point effort of Eliel Gonzalez.

The Gotham Classic resumes on Tuesday when Kennesaw State travels to Pacific. Play concludes on Thursday with NC A&T at Kennesaw State and UMass home to Rider.