LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Rider University broke away from a 4-point halftime lead to defeat The University of Scranton men's basketball team, 76-59, in an exhibition game Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium.

Senior guard Tim Lavelle (Clarks Green, Pa./Scranton Preparatory) scored 12 of his game-high 19 points in the first half as the Royals shot 50 percent from the field to stay within striking distance, 39-35.  Lavelle also finished with a team-high eight rebounds, five assists and three steals in 27 minutes of action.

Scranton cooled off considerably in the second half, however, making just 10 of 29 shots from the field (34.5 percent) against the Division I Broncs, who answered the Royals first half charge by draining 12 of 23 shots from the field (56.5 percent) in the final 20 minutes play.  Rider also held a commanding 46-33 advantage in rebounding.

The Royals also received 17 points from junior guard Michael Barr (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic), seven points, three rebounds, and two assists from senior guard Travis Farrell (Middletown, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy), and four points, six rebounds, an assist, and a block from junior Jason Pierce (Scranton, Pa./Conetoga/Lackawanna College).

Daniel Stewart led Rider with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds and Junior Fortunat and Anthony Myles combined for 26 points and 14 rebounds.

The Royals will officially open their 2012-2013 season on Friday, November 16, against Oneonta State University in the semifinals of the Radisson Invitational at 7:30 p.m. in the Long Center.  The first game will feature Baruch College against York College of Pennsylvania at 5:30 p.m.

The result of today's game does not count in either Rider or Scranton's win-loss record.

Newspaper Box Score
RIDER UNIVERSITY 76, SCRANTON 59

SCRANTON
Tim Lavelle 7-14 0-0 19; Michael Barr 6-12 2-3 17; Travis Farrell 3-7 0-0 7; Michael Fee 2-5 0-0 4; Ross Danzig 2-12 0-0 4; Jason Pierce 2-2 0-0 4; Brendan Boken 1-4 0-0 2; Kyle Ranck 1-1 0-0 2; Mike Marchman 0-0 0-0 0;Marcus Thomas 0-0 0-0 0; Brian Farrell 0-0 0-0 0; Justice Perez 0-0 0-0 0; Sam Palermo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-57 2-3 59.

RIDER
Stewart, Daniel 6-11 4-7 16; Myles, Anthony 4-11 2-2 13; Fortunat, Junior 5-9 3-7 13; Lindsey, Nurideen 4-10 1-4 10; Thompson, Jonathon 3-9 1-3 9; Pereira, Tommy 2-5 0-0 6; Sadler, Zedric 1-2 3-4 6; Valentine, Shawn 1-2 1-2 3; Bursis, Emerson 0-0 0-0 0; Nwaniemeka, Jamal 0-2 0-0 0; Alford, Khalil 0-0 0-0 0; Nd-Ezuma, Dera 0-1 0-0 0; Stewart, Derrick 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 26-63 15-31 76.

Scranton......................   35   24  -   59
Rider University..............   39   37  -   76

3-point goals--Scranton 9-23 (Tim Lavelle 5-9; Michael Barr 3-5; Travis Farrell 1-3; Ross Danzig 0-4; Michael Fee 0-2), Rider University 9-26 (Myles, Anthony 3-8; Pereira, Tommy 2-5; Thompson, Jonathon 2-6; Sadler, Zedric 1-1; Lindsey, Nurideen 1-4; Nwaniemeka, Jamal 0-2). Fouled out--Scranton-Tim Lavelle; Ross Danzig; Jason Pierce, Rider University-None. Rebounds--Scranton 33 (Tim Lavelle 8), Rider University 46 (Stewart, Daniel 13). Assists--Scranton 19 (Tim Lavelle 5), Rider University 16 (Thompson, Jonathon 5; Lindsey, Nurideen 5). Total fouls--Scranton 25, Rider University 13. Technical fouls--Scranton-None, Rider University-None. A-1231