LAWRENCEVILLE — The offensive numbers for Rider were among the poorest in all of college basketball before Tuesday night’s game against Bucknell and they only got worse after it was over. The Broncs failed to reach the 40-point mark for the first time in over half a decade in an ugly 51-38 loss at Alumni Gymnasium. Yes, you read that right. Thirty-eight points. “Some of the things I’m seeing,” coach Kevin Baggett said, “I’ve not seen in the past.” Rider’s Flash Burton, left, shoots over the defense of Bucknell’s Jayden Williams, right, during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider’s Antwan Wilson, left, moves toward the basket as Bucknell’s Jayden Williams, right, defends during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider’s Kristupas Kepezinskas looks to move the ball against Bucknell during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider’s AB Coulibaly, 10, drives to the basket as Bucknell’s Amon Dorries, 22, defends during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider’s AB Coulibably, right, defends against Bucknell’s Achile Spadone, left, during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Rider’s Flash Burton, 11, goes up for a shot as Bucknell’s Achile Spadone, 24, defends during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Show Caption1 of 6Rider’s Flash Burton, left, shoots over the defense of Bucknell’s Jayden Williams, right, during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) Expand The Broncs (1-8) lost their sixth straight game and still haven’t beaten a Division I opponent. The 38 points were the fewest they’ve scored since a 61-37 loss at Wisconsin on Dec. 31, 2019. They nearly had as many turnovers (15) as made field goals (16). They scored three points in the final nine minutes of the first half. They turned the ball over on their first five possessions of the second half. They went 3-of-13 from behind the arc. “We got to slow down and be more disciplined,” Baggett said. “We got to move, pass, cut and when we do that we’re hard to guard. We got to do it consistently for 40 minutes. We are playing in spurts.” Not one player reached double figures in scoring. “We get a little pressure, we tend to start playing one on one,” said forward Caleb Smith, who had six points and eight rebounds. “If we keep swinging the ball, we can find the right shot. Every time we swung the ball, we got a good shot, a shot we wanted.” Even when Rider got a good shot, it didn’t go in. That’s been a reoccurring problem. The Broncs rank 353rd out of 361 teams in 3-point percentage, dead last in 3-pointers made per game and next to last in effective field goal percentage. “I think we are taking too many quick shots, too many early shots instead of making the defense guard,” Baggett said. “They are making us guard by moving the ball and driving it. We stand around too much. Guys aren’t moving enough. When you don’t move, the next thing you know the shot clock runs down and those are hard shots to make consistently.” Amazingly, given all that, a 14-1 push in the second half had the Broncs trailing the Bison (3-9), who are going through it themselves and snapped a nine-game skid with this victory, by two (34-32) at the under-eight media timeout. Bucknell then scored the game’s next eight points, while Rider committed three straight turnovers. “Too many guys tried to be the hero when we finally got back in the game,” Baggett said. “Too many turnovers (and) too many breakdowns when you do all that to get back in the game.” Burton struggling Sophomore guard Flash Burton scored three points on 1-of-9 shooting and had just one assist in 24 minutes. “Sometimes Flash is in his own head,” Baggett said. “He’s on the top of the list when it comes to the scouting report and he’s not handled (that) well to this point. Got to get better, got to learn, got watch more film.” Rider had three assists on 16 made baskets. “This is unheard of for my teams,” Baggett said. “We got to have better point guard play from all of our team, and we will. These guys are fighting.” Baggett’s best lineup on Tuesday was one of Jamir McNeil, Kristupas Kpezinskas, AB Coulibaly, Davis Bynum and Smith. “Everybody at some point has played some good minutes and then bad minutes,” the veteran coach said. “It’s not been any consistency. We cut the game to two points and we got to execute, we got to defend, we got to communicate on both ends of the court. That’s something we struggle with right now.” Cruz healing Zion Cruz missed his second straight game with the groin injury he suffered last Thursday at Merrimack. Baggett said he hopes to have Cruz back for the trip to Delaware in a week. “He looked better today. I got to believe he’ll be ready to play next week, at least we hope so. That’s our trainer’s call,” Baggett said. “He did tell me he felt better today and got up some shots. Hopefully, he’s close to getting better.” ...read more read less