FAIRFIELD, Conn. — What has been a mere formality for weeks is now official. Rider won’t be making the trip to Atlantic City. The Broncs were condemned to a bottom three finish after their second-half rally came up short in an 86-75 loss to Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon at the William H Pitt Athletic Convocation Center. Rider (3-22, 2-14) trailed by 19 at halftime, but cut that deficit to five in the second half. It even had the ball down five before an offensive foul was upgraded to a Flagrant-1 and resulted in a five-point possession for the Pioneers (12-16, 8-9) that sealed the game. Zion Cruz scored 22 points and Flash Burton added 21 for the Broncs, who have four games remaining before this miserable season comes to an end. Cruz’s jumper with 4:07 remaining pulled Rider within five at 74-69. Anquan Hill led six Sacred Heart players in double figures with 21 points. Hill converted two free throws after Daniel Helterfoff was called for a Flagrant-1 foul when he caught Hill with an elbow trying to gain post position. Hill then got a three-point play on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to 10. The Pioneers made 11 of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half as they built up a big lead. Rutgers 68, Maryland 57 PISCATAWAY — Tariq Francis scored 21 points, Harun Zrno added 13, and Rutgers defeated Maryland, lifting the Scarlet Knights out of the Big Ten cellar. Zrno hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 of Rutgers’ first 15 second-half points as the Scarlet Knights built a 42-34 lead through the first seven minutes after halftime. The lead reached 13 points with 8 1/2 minutes remaining. Maryland cut the deficit to five points a couple of times and the Terrapins were still within 60-54 with two minutes left. Rutgers (10-15, 3-11) then closed it out at the free-throw line with Francis making 6 of 6 and Jamichael Davis going 2 for 2. For the game, Francis made 12 of 13 free throws and the Scarlet Knights were 19 of 24. Solomon Washington had 11 points and 14 rebounds for Maryland (10-15, 3-11), which had won two in a row. Darius Adams scored 13 points and David Coit had 12. Rutgers led 18-13 with seven minutes remaining in the first half before Washington had a layup and a dunk in an 8-2 run that put Maryland on top 21-20 with four minutes left. Rutgers quickly went back ahead and held the lead until Washington’s free throw in the final second made it 27-all going into halftime. All three of Rutgers’ conference wins have come at Jersey Mike’s Arena, the previous two in overtime against Northwestern and Oregon. Rutgers and Maryland are one win clear of last place in the conference, ahead of Oregon, Northwestern and Penn State which all have two wins. ...read more read less