Simply if you had been prepared to put in writing Zion Cruz and Rider off, they reminded you what they’ll do.
Cruz had his greatest sport within the uniform with 23 factors to steer six gamers in double figures and the Broncs received at Merrimack, 83-78, on Friday night time enhance their odds of qualifying for the MAAC Event in Atlantic Metropolis.
Simply how good was Cruz?
The Trenton native matched a career-best 23 factors on 9-of-10 from the sector together with a pair of clutch free throws that made it a two-possession sport with 18 seconds remaining.
Cruz has been on an upward trajectory during the last 5 video games. Throughout that span, he’s averaging 17 factors on 53.3% from the sector and 53.8% (14-for-26) on 3-pointers.
The three-point taking pictures is the largest change from early within the season. He’s at 37.5% on 56 makes an attempt in 18 MAAC video games and there’s been a heavier weight loss program of catch-and-shoot on 3s.
“My teammates simply discover me on the proper occasions,” Cruz mentioned. “They need me to make that play, so I stepped and made the play. My teammates simply believed in me.”
The well-traveled Cruz was as soon as a top-50 highschool prospect, however had his profession at a cross roads. He started at DePaul after which spent a yr at a JUCO in Kansas.
Now he’s again residence and starting to take advantage of that.
During the last 10 video games, he has reached double figures in eight of them and is second on the group in scoring in league play at 11.8 factors.
“All of it begins in apply,” Cruz mentioned. “If we proceed to have nice practices that can present up within the sport.”
Rider (11-18, 7-11) can safe a spot in Atlantic Metropolis by successful its remaining two video games subsequent week at residence in opposition to Canisius and Niagara. The Broncs are a sport and a half forward of Saint Peter’s and Niagara — each are in motion on Sunday whereas Rider is off — for the tenth and remaining place.
Something lower than a sweep and also you’d be counting on tiebreakers.
“We obtained to be able to win the following sport. No letdown,” coach Kevin Baggett mentioned. “Clearly, each sport now could be vital and what higher approach than to hopefully have our followers on the market to help us down the stretch.”
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