Monmouth-Rider rivalry building, could heighten at MAAC Tournament

WEST LONG BRANCH – Given Rider University and Monmouth University both play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and are separated by 60 miles of Garden State highway, it would be easy to classify the two programs as rivals, but it takes more than just proximity and conference affiliation to get to the point of a true rivalry.

In a matchup dating back to the 1974-75 season, the Hawks and Broncs have had their share of thrillers. Most famously, Rider advanced to the 1994 NCAA Tournament at Monmouth's expense, winning that season's NEC Tournament final, 62-56, in Lawrenceville. Two years later with the scene moved to venerable Boylan Gymnasium, Monmouth broke through to the NCAA Tournament for the first time with a 60-59 win with ESPN cameras in West Long Branch for the first time.

Twenty years ago, Monmouth and Rider had something going, but that faded into annual non-conference matchups once Rider left for the MAAC in 1997. When the Hawks joined the MAAC for the 2013-14 academic year, the hope was that the two sides could rekindle what they started in the mid-1990s. They appear to be on their way to doing just that.

Monmouth broke a nine-game losing streak to the Broncs on Jan. 12 via a thrilling 55-54 come-from-behind win in Lawrenceville.That was the fourth meeting between the two since Monmouth joined the MAAC and three of those four were decided by six points or less. The fourth, a 71-60 Rider win, came in the first round of last season's MAAC Tournament.

"It can't be a rivalry until the other team starts winning, too," Monmouth head coach King Rice said on Jan. 12. "Hopefully, we can hold up our end of the deal."

The Jan. 12 game was contested when both teams were 4-1 and in early MAAC contention. When the two played for the second time on Thursday night, both sides were in the middle of closing up successful regular-seasons that saw them lock up top-4 seeds and first-round byes in the MAAC Tournament. Rider began Thursday at 13-5 in the MAAC, with Monmouth right behind at 12-6.

For Thursday's game, one Monmouth official expected close to 3,000 fans inside the 4,100-seat Multipurpose Activity Center. The Hawks' first game as a member of the MAAC last season came, not coincidentally, against Rider. The game drew 2,705 to the MAC, plus an ESPN3 audience online, for Rider's 89-83 victory.

"Anytime both teams are towards the top of the league, it's great," Rice said Tuesday after practice. "We're still fighting for seeding, our records will be the same if we win the game, but if they win, they'll finish ahead of us this year and I think that means a lot to everybody. We were fighting to win the league, but Iona wrapped that up, so the next goal is to finish as high as we can. We have two games left that are still very meaningful games."

The MAAC's preeminent rivalry at the moment is Iona-Manhattan, two schools separated by nine miles. Under the current coaching staffs, both programs have become mid-major powers and annual threats to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Monmouth-Rider is not Iona-Manhattan, but a late-round MAAC Tournament game between them would not only be a boon for both sides, but for the league as well.

The possibility exists that Monmouth and Rider could meet in a MAAC Tournament semifinal on March 8 or even the ESPN2-televised championship game on March 9. The Broncs entered Thursday's game looking to lock up the No. 2 seed with a win. The Hawks went in with the possibility of finishing second, third or fourth.

Monmouth's regular-season will end Sunday vs. Siena, while Rider will close up against Marist on Sunday.

Staff writer Josh Newman: jnewman@app.com