Novar Gadson scored 23 points as Rider defeated Loyola (Md.) 83-79 Friday night to clinch a first-round bye and the No. 5 seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.
Gadson's layup and free throw with 33 seconds remaining gave the Broncs (12-18, 9-8) an 81-79 lead, the game's 17th lead change.
Trailing 72-67, Rider used an 11-3 run, getting five points from Jeff Jones and four from Brandon Penn, to lead 78-75 with 1:36 left.
Layups by Erik Etherly and Dylon Cormier put the Greyhounds (20-8, 12-5) back in front 79-78 with 52 seconds to play.
Rider led 46-42 after shooting 53.3 percent (16 of 30) in the first half, a far cry from its 12-point first-half performance in a 63-46 loss to Loyola on Feb. 3.
Jones added 16 points and Jonathon Thompson 15 for Rider.
Etherly and Shane Walker scored 14 each for the Greyhounds.
