After nation's longest stretch between home games Blue Hens fall in OT at Carpenter Center
Finally playing a home basketball game provided very little in the way of comfort for the Blue Hens on Wednesday night.
After a 38-day stretch between home games, the longest in Division I, Delaware struggled from the outset to match Rider’s shooting prowess and energy in front of 1,582 at the Carpenter Center.
Forcing overtime was certainly an accomplishment for Delaware. But it couldn’t mount enough offensive firepower or get the defensive stops there either and fell 88-85 to the Broncs in a nonconference match-up between long-ago Mid-Atlantic and East Coast Conference rivals.
Broncs live up to billing
Rider was voted the preseason favorite in its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and featured Mervin James, the league’s preseason player of the year, and fellow first-team All-MAAC preseason pick Allen Powell. Mervin scored 25 points and Powell 17.
But the Broncs arrived with a 2-8 record including a pair of league losses, though they’d obviously been hardened from games against Marquette, Nebraska and Maryland.
It showed in a 54% shooting night (32-for-59) that included 7-for-14 3-point aim and a 40-29 edge on the boards.
“They’re older; they’re experienced; they’re tough kids,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said of Rider, “and our defense wasn’t where it needed to be or had been.”
HISTORIC WIN: Look what Delaware basketball accomplished for first time in 50 years
Blue Hens expected better
Delaware (8-4) was coming off confidence-building wins against Xavier, Delaware’s first ever over a Big East foe, Robert Morris and Rhode Island. But it didn’t carry over as Delaware trailed most of the night, including 40-38 at halftime and 54-46, Rider’s largest lead, with 13:27 to go.
“We were digging a hole the whole game and you probably gotta win it in regulation,” Ingelsby said, “and we didn’t get it done there.”
While Jyare Davis equaled his career high with 28 points, Delaware didn’t get the widespread contributions that had keyed its recent run.
Jalun Trent had 15 points, Cavan Reilly 11 and Gerald Drumgoole 10. Delaware shot 43% (29-for-67), including 6-for-24 on 3s and failed to convert on some drives inside including Trent’s try late in regulation.
SIGNING DAY: Delaware football recruiting class includes one major surprise
Davis laments loss
After eight straight road games, Davis was disappointed Delaware didn’t do better in its return home.
“You go in into every game wanting to win every game,” he said. “I think we’re a very capable team that can win games. When we fall short of that and don’t play to our potential, that’s definitely frustrating.”
He knew what the root of that was. Delaware had limited foes to 68.7 points per game before Wednesday.
“For one,” he said, “we can’t give up 88 points.”
DELAWARE TO PLAY COLORADO: It's Prime time for Blue Hens in 2025
Tough task next
The Blue Hens will break for Christmas before returning for practice the night of Dec. 26. Princeton then visits the Carpenter Center for a 2 p.m. Dec. 30 matinee.
The Tigers are 10-1 highlighted by a win over Rutgers.
A visit from Hampton then opens Delaware’s Coastal Athletic Association schedule Jan. 4.
Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Return home not so sweet as Delaware Blue Hens fall to Rider Broncs
