Sunday, March 9th, 8:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Times Union Center (17,500) -- Albany, New York. Television: MSG. Home Record: Marist 10-2, Rider 11-2. Away Record: Marist 6-7, Rider 9-5. Neutral Record: Marist 2-4, Rider 2-2. Conference Record: Marist 11-7, Rider 13-5. Series Record: Marist leads, 21-16.

GAME NOTES: The second-seeded Rider Broncs will collide with the sixth-seeded Marist Red Foxes in the semifinal round of the 2008 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament this evening. The winner of this contest will move on to Monday's championship game to take on either top-seeded Siena or fourth-seeded Loyola-Maryland for a shot at an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Neither Marist nor Rider has ever won the MAAC Tournament and both are 7-10 all-time in this event. Ironically, the Red Foxes and Broncos are the only league members without a title, so the fact that one will get a chance to play for the championship is exciting. Marist upset third-seeded Niagara yesterday by a 66-62 final and figures to play rather loose this evening. As for Rider, it was pushed harder than expected by 10th-seeded Canisius in the quarterfinal round, as the result was a closer-than-expected 75-71 triumph. Rider and Marist split a pair of meetings during the regular season, and the Red Foxes own a 21-16 lead in the all-time series between the teams.

It is rare that a team is led in scoring by a player who hasn't started a single game, but that is the case for Marist. Jay Gavin is netting 12.1 ppg despite his 39.9 percent shooting from the floor. The only other double-digit scorer in the lineup is Louie McCroskey with 11.8 ppg. Still, the Red Foxes are scoring 69.9 ppg while allowing 68.5 ppg to the opposition. Marist struggled offensively against Niagara yesterday, as the club connected on only 38.2 percent of its field goal attempts, including a 6-of-21 effort from the foul line. The Red Foxes also managed a mere seven assists against 15 turnovers, but they did earn a 43-38 rebounding advantage and limit the Purple Eagles to 36.4 percent field goal efficiency. David Devezin led Marist with 14 points, and Ben Farmer added 13 points. Gavin pitched in 11 points in his normal reserve role.

Rider is led by the MAAC Player of the Year, Jason Thompson, who is averaging 20.2 ppg on 55.4 percent shooting from the field. The standout performer is ripping down 11.8 rpg, and he has also posted 88 assists and 85 blocked shots, proof of his tremendous versatility. Ryan Thompson has been an effective performer as well for the Broncs, as he is netting 14.7 ppg to go along with 6.1 rpg, 107 assists and 50 steals. Harris Mansell is the roster's third and final double-digit scorer with his 13.9 ppg. Rider is generating 77.9 ppg while allowing 70.5 ppg to the opposition. In the closer-than-expected win over Canisius yesterday, Jason Thompson posted 18 points and 11 rebounds. Mansell and Justin Robinson tallied 13 points apiece, and Ryan Thompson contributed 11 points. The Broncs connected on 50 percent of their field goal attempts and earned advantages in rebounding (38-30) and points from the foul line (15-4).

Rider gets the nod in this contest, as the Thompsons will lead the club to victory. Expect the Broncs to win by double figures.

Predicted Outcome

Rider 80, Marist 65