Game No. 24
Presented by Pepsi Max, Tee Shirt University and Just Pizza
Canisius (4-19, 1-12 MAAC) vs. Rider (10-15, 7-6 MAAC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Koessler Athletic Center - Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: None
Online Video: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network & MAAC.TV
Radio: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network
Talent: Jay Moran (p-x-p) and Garrett Layton (color)

CANISIUS LOOKS TO END LOSING SKID THURSDAY

• The Canisius men's basketball team looks to end its seven-game losing skid tonight when the Golden Griffins play host to Rider in the Koessler Athletic Center.
• The Golden Griffins are 4-19 overall and 1-12 in league play after falling at Marist Feb. 4, by a score of 80-69.
• This seven-game losing streak is the longest for the Golden Griffins since the team opened the 2007-08 season with eight-straight losses.

FAST BREAK POINTS

• Canisius is 2-1 in its last three home dates against Rider dating back to 2008-09 season.
• Despite losing by one point (77-76) last season to Rider at home, the Griffs have won two of their last three games against the Broncs here in the Koessler Athletic Center by an average of 16 points per game.
• The Griffs shot 46.8 percent from the field in last Saturday's loss at Marist. Coupled with the Blue and Gold's 52.5 percent effort from the field at Iona Feb. 2, it marks the first time this year the Blue and Gold has shot better than 45 percent from the field in back-to-back games.
• As a team, Canisius shot 87.0 percent (20-for-23) from the free-throw line at Marist Feb. 4. The Blue and Gold comes into this game leading the MAAC and ranking 39th in the nation in free-throw shooting percentage at 73.9 percent.
• Junior Harold Washington scored a game-high 25 points at Marist Feb. 4 - the eighth time this year he's been good for 20-or more points in a game.
• Washington went 12-for-15 from the free-throw line at Marist last Saturday, the second time this season he's made 12 free-throws in a game.
• Fellow junior Alshwan Hymes moved into fourth place on the school's career 3-point field goal list at Marist. He currently has 154 career 3-pointers.
• Hymes starts tonight's game with 63 makes from behind the 3-point arc this year, which ranks ninth on the school's single-season 3-point field goals made chart.
• After tonight's game, Canisius will have just two remaining home games this season.

ABOUT THE BRONCS

• Rider travels to Western New York with a 10-15 overall record and a 7-6 mark in MAAC play.
• The Broncs have won three of their last four contests after coming back and defeating Niagara at home Feb. 5, by a score of 74-73.
• Senior guard Jeff Jones leads Rider with his 13.2 points per game scoring average, which ranks 13th in the MAAC. Jones did not play when these two teams met in Lawrenceville, N.J., Jan. 22.
• Senior forward Brandon Penn is chipping in 12.3 points per game. In the first meeting between these two teams Jan. 22, Penn scored a 25 points on the power of seven made 3-pointers.
• Sophomore Daniel Stewart is good for 7.1 rebounds per game for Rider. As a team, the Broncs ranks seventh in the MAAC in rebounding average.
• Rider starts tonight's game ranked second in the league in scoring average at 72.2 points per game. The Broncs have scored 70-or more points in five of their last six outings.

CANISIUS - RIDER SERIES

• This will be the 36th all-time meeting between these two schools, with Rider holding a 28-7 all-time lead in the series.
• Canisius has taken two of the last three games between these two schools played here in Buffalo by an average margin of 16 points per game.
• The Griffs and the Broncs split the regular-season series last year, with each team winning on the road. Rider defeated Canisius at the horn with a last-second bucket Jan. 9, 2011 to earn a 77-76 victory the last time the team's played in the Koessler Athletic Center.