Preview: Mount Saint Mary’s vs. Rider in Metro Atlantic Showdown LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Interstat) — Two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams on divergent paths will meet Friday when the Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers visit the Rider Broncs at Alumni Gymnasium. The Mountaineers (11-15) enter with momentum from an 83-76 road victory at Iona on Feb. 7, while the Broncs (3-20) are reeling from a 73-47 home loss to Merrimack the same day. The matchup is a quick rematch of a Jan. 24 game, which Mount Saint Mary’s won 71-61 on its home floor. Mount Saint Mary’s guard Arlandus Keyes, who scored 16 points with five assists in the first meeting against Rider, will be a focal point. He is coming off a 15-point performance at Iona and has averaged 13.6 points over his last eight games. Support comes from Luke McEldon, who had 17 points against Iona, and Xavier Lipscomb, who dished eight assists in that win. For Rider, consistency has been elusive. Guard Caleb Smith, a player to watch, had 11 points and two blocks against Merrimack but was held to five points in the loss at Mount Saint Mary’s last month. Forward Flash Burton provides a scoring spark, leading the Broncs with 18 points in their last outing. The statistical disparity is stark. Rider ranks last in the MAAC in scoring defense, allowing 80.2 points per game. Mount Saint Mary’s, while inconsistent, has shown a higher offensive ceiling, averaging 70.3 points. Friday’s contest represents a critical opportunity for both. The Mountaineers aim to build a winning streak and improve their conference tournament seeding. The Broncs, anchored at home, desperately seek a reprieve from a season defined by struggles, with their last win coming against Saint Peter’s on Feb. 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.