Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Canisius University Athletics

#Griffs The Official Home of the Canisius University Golden Griffins | #Griffs
Bryan Ndjonga goes to the basket looking to score in a road game at Dayton on Nov. 3, 2025.
Anthony Militello
72
Winner Canisius Canis 9-19,4-13 MAAC
66
Rider Rider 3-23,2-15 MAAC
Winner
Canisius Canis
9-19,4-13 MAAC
72
Final
66
Rider Rider
3-23,2-15 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Canisius Canis 40 32 72
Rider Rider 30 36 66

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Snaps Losing Streak with Win at Rider

Canisius junior Bryan Ndjonga scored a team-high 21 points and fellow junior Kahlil Singleton added 20 to help lead the Golden Griffins to a 72-66 road win over Rider in MAAC men's basketball action at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, N.J.
 
The win, Canisius' first since Jan. 9, snapped the Blue and Gold's 11-game losing skid and improved the team to 9-19 overall and 4-13 in conference play. Rider fell to 3-23 overall and 2-15 in conference action with its fifth-straight defeat.
 
Ndjonga and Singleton were two of four Griffs to score in double-figures on the night, as the Griffs passed the 70-point mark on the scoreboard for the first time since the team's overtime loss to Marist at home Jan. 30. Ndjonga grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots in the victory for Canisius, while five of Singleton's field goals came from 3-point land, with four of those coming in the game's first 3:51. Singleton also grabbed six boards in the win as Canisius out-rebounded Rider by a 42-28 clip for the game.
 
Junior Mike Evbagharu added 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal to the winning cause and freshman Javante Edwards scored 11 points, with seven of those points coming from the free-throw line. For the game, Canisius shot 86.4 percent (19-for-22) from the free-throw line, while Rider hit on just 11 of its 18 chances from the stripe.
 
Canisius jumped out to an early 11-0 lead just 1:55 into the contest after Singleton hit three-straight 3-point tries and Ndjonga scored a lay-up in transition after he stole the ball from a Rider player at the top of the key on the Griffs' defensive end. Rider was able to trim Canisius' first-half lead down to four at 30-26 with 4:24 left in the opening half, but the Griffs closed out the first period with a 10-4 run over the final 3:54 before intermission to take a 40-30 lead into the locker room. That 10-4 surge was started by a 3-point field goal by Singleton and capped by a traditional three-point play by Ndjonga with 1.3 seconds left before the halftime break.
 
In the second half, Rider trimmed the Griffs' lead to just one at 46-45 thanks to a 15-6 surge over the first 6:25 of the second half, but Canisius quickly stretched its lead back to four at 50-45 thanks to three made free-throws by Singleton. The Broncs would eventually tie the game at 55-55 with 6:22 left on the clock, but a 3-pointer by Ndjonga from the top of the key and a pair of makes from the charity stripe by Edwards pushed Canisius back in front by five at 60-55 with 4:46 left in regulation time.
 
Out of the game's final media timeout, Rider turned the ball over, and Edwards was able to find Ndjonga in the corner for a trey that gave the Blue and Gold an eight-point cushion with 3:14 remaining. A bucket by Rider's Zion Cruz with 15.5 seconds left made the score 68-63 in favor of the Griffs, but Evbagharu sealed the win moments later after he drilled a pair of free-throws.
 
Flash Burton scored a game-high 22 points for Rider, while Cruz chipped in 19 points to the losing cause. Rider shot 39.1 percent from the field and made just 5-of-17 tries from 3-point land on the night, while Canisius shot 44.2 percent from the floor and 35.0 percent (7-for-20) from long range.
   
GAME NOTES
• Friday was the 62nd all-time meeting between these two programs, and Rider leads the series 43-19.
• Canisius' win at Rider's Alumni Gymnasium was just the Griffs' seventh in 29 tries, and it was the Blue and Gold's first road victory in the series since 2022-23.
• The Griffs' plus-14 rebounding margin matches the highest rebounding margin of the season. Canisius was also plus-14 on the glass in the win over Allegheny on Nov. 6.
• Canisius recorded a season-high seven blocked shots in the win. Ndjonga and senior King Ijeoma each had a team-high three blocks to their credit.
• Ndjonga's 21-point game stands as his fifth game of the season with 20-or more points, all of which have come since Jan. 9.
• Singleton has made five-or more 3-point field goals in five games this season. He now has 78 3-point makes to his credit this year. That ranks ninth on the school's single-season 3-pointers made list.
• Evbagharu has now grabbed five-or more rebounds in 21 games this season.
• Graduate student Myles Wilmoth grabbed eight boards and dished out three assists in the win. He has been credited with multiple assists 11 times this year.
 
UP NEXT
Canisius will close out the road portion of the 2025-26 regular season on Sunday with a road game at defending MAAC champion Mount St. Mary's. Game time is set for 2 p.m., nd the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
Tickets for the final two Canisius home men's basketball games can be purchased online by CLICKING HERE. Tickets can also be purchased by phone by calling (716) 888-TIXX or in person at the Canisius ticket office, located in the Koessler Athletic Center lobby, during normal business hours and 90 minutes before tip-off on game day.
 
SUPPORT THE GRIFFS
CLICK HERE to Support the Men's Basketball Excellence Fund

Like Canisius Athletics on Facebook
Follow @GoGriffs and @Griffs_MBB on X
Follow @GoGriffs and @Griffs_MBB on Instagram
Print Friendly Version