LAWRENCEVILLE — You can’t sugarcoat that.
This was one of the worst losses in Kevin Baggett’s 14 years as head coach at Rider.
A 68-65 home defeat to Coppin State.
Yes, that’s the team ranked No. 364 out of 365 in KenPom.
“(It) may be one of my worst losses,” Baggett said. “That’s on me. That’s on me.”
Rider’s Caleb Smith, left, drives to the basket as Coppin State’s Torrin Andrews, right, defends during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Rider’s Cole McCabe, 21, tries to score the ball as he’s challenged at the rim by Coppin State’s Jamari Piercy, 14, during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Rider’s Mohamad Diallo, 6, backs down against the defense of Coppin State’s Chris Morgan, 12, during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Rider’s Flash Burton, 11, drives to the basket against Coppin State during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Rider’s Zion Cruz sets himself to go up for a layup against Coppin State during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Rider’s Zion Cruz, 0, and Devean Williams, 8, defend against Coppin State’s Hussain Williams, center, during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Rider’s Caleb Smith passes the ball against Copping State during an NCAA men’s basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
Rider’s Flash Burton shoots a jumper against Coppin State during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
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Rider’s Caleb Smith, left, drives to the basket as Coppin State’s Torrin Andrews, right, defends during an NCAA men’s basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)
To understand how bad it was you have to know the Broncs coughed up a 13-point halftime lead.
They shot 5-for-23 from the floor in the second half.
They missed seven free throws in the second half, including one with 1:23 remaining that would have tied the game.
They gave up 18 offensive rebounds and turned the ball over 14 times in the game.
They got a total of 11 points out of their four frontcourt players on 2-for-15 from the floor.
Flash Burton and Zion Cruz were a combined 8-for-25 shooting. Burton turned the ball over three more times to give him 25 on the year against 11 assists and misfired on two jumpers in the final minute. Cruz missed the late free throw on a night when he got to the line 12 times and made nine.
“I got to do a better job coaching this team,” Baggett said. “Getting guys in a position to play, defend better, run better, move the ball better, rebound better, block out, play tougher.”
The veteran coach kept coming back to toughness. It was the visitors from the MEAC who had more of it in the second half.
“We took our foot off the gas, turned the ball over way too much, bad shots, don’t rebound, I don’t know how many free throws we missed,” Baggett said. “It fell apart in the second half. They were tougher. We had them beat on a backdoor and one of their guys dives on the ground out of his shoes to prevent it from happening. They were on the floor a lot, we weren’t. If you look at the 50/50 balls that went their way, they just wanted it more than we did.”
This was the first close game Rider (1-5) has been in and it showed. The Broncs failed to secure rebounds — Coppin (2-7) took the lead with 2:16 to go after Demariontay Hall made two free throws after he got a third chance at the basket — missed a key free throw and tossed up bricks with the game on the line.
Players looked unsure of themselves on both ends of the floor.
“This is basketball,” Baggett said. “If you are not sure of yourself who else is going to be sure of.”
Rider doesn’t play again until Dec. 4 when it opens the MAAC slate at Merrimack. After that it’s a trip to preseason favorite Quinnipiac three days later.
It’s hard to believe this team, which is 0-5 against Division I competition, can win either of those games.
Or, frankly, any game.
“We got to practice, we got to get better,” Baggett said. “It’s too early to put our heads down.”