ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Tariq Ingraham made the game-winning layup with seven-tenths of a second remaining as No. 8 seed Rider handed ninth-seeded Siena Basketball a heartbreaking 78-76 defeat in the First Round of the Hercules Tires Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
 
Ingraham led five in double figures with 19 points on 7-9 shooting and 13 rebounds for Rider (14-18) which advances to face regular season champion and top-seed Quinnipiac in the MAAC Quarterfinals Wednesday.
 
Second Team All-MAAC selection Justice Shoats scored 19 points and dished out nine assists for Siena (14-18) which finished with a 10-win improvement in the first season under head coach Gerry McNamara.
 
A classic MAAC Tournament battle featured 20 lead changes and seven ties. Neither team led by more than two possessions in an opening stanza which saw Siena claim a 38-36 lead at the break.
 
Siena started the second half hot, and went on an early 13-2 run to claim as much as a 13-point advantage at 58-45 with 13:31 remaining. But Rider responded with the ensuing nine points and it was game on from there.
 
In a see-saw battle down the stretch, Shoats hit a free throw to draw the Saints even with 13.7 seconds to go. But on the final possession, Ingraham got loose on the interior and Flash Burton found him through a double team for the decisive basket.
 
Burton finished with 17 points for the surging Broncs who have now won four straight. Second Team All-MAAC selection T.J. Weeks added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for Rider which held a 41-28 advantage on the glass highlighted by 16 offensive rebounds. The Broncs scored 46 points in the paint, and held a commanding 23-2 advantage in second chance scoring.
 
Unanimous MAAC All-Rookie Team selection Gavin Doty wrapped a phenomenal freshman season with 16 points on 7-10 shooting for Siena which has dropped five straight MAAC Tournament games, albeit each of which have been by two possessions or fewer and by an average of just 3.8 points. For the 2024-25 season, the Saints finished 1-10 against MAAC opponents in games decided by two possessions or less, including a pair of losses to Rider in the final second.
 
Brendan Coyle added all 13 of his points in the first half for Siena which has dropped 12 straight away from home in the month of March. Coyle wraps up a breakout junior campaign with 94 made threes, tied for third most in program single-season history.
 
This postgame recap is proudly presented by The Brothers that just do Gutters, a proud partner of Siena Athletics. Trust the team that always comes through – on the court and for your home.