Rider almost snapped its losing streak with a remarkable comeback.
Instead, the Broncs returned home to Lawrenceville with an 11th straight defeat after Fairfield hung on for a 68-62 victory on Friday night at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, Conn.
Rider (1-13, 0-5) remained winless against Division I opposition even though it has been competitive in three of its five MAAC contests. It has led at the under-four media timeout in the second half in three of those games.
Behind a career-high 27 points from Flash Burton, the Broncs erased a 14-point second-half deficit to go ahead 59-58 — their only lead in the game — with 4:10 remaining when Burton connected on a lefty push shot with a defender draped all over him.
The Stags (10-7, 2-4) responded with the game’s next eight points and Rider went cold offensively. Burton’s three free throws with 21 seconds left were its only points the rest of the way.
Fairfield finished with a +20 edge in second-chance points (23-3) and hauled down 17 offensive rebounds. The Broncs have conceded 35 offensive caroms in the last two games.
Rider’s 3-point shooting woes continued with a 4-of-16 night — all four of those makes were in the second half after an 0-for-7 opening 20 minutes — and it missed eight free throws.
Braden Sparks led the Stags with 23 points, while Declan Wucherpfennis (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Brandon Benjamin (10 points, 13 rebounds) both collected double-doubles. Sparks hit his fifth 3-pointer with 1:59 left for a 65-59 lead after an offensive board extended a Fairfield possession.
Zion Cruz tallied 15 of his 19 points in the second half to aid Rider in its comeback attempt.
The Broncs host Marist — a 76-72 winner over Sacred Heart on Friday night — on Sunday at 2 p.m.