Novar Gadson scores 20 and Ryan Thompson adds 19 in Rider’s 86-71 win over Lehigh

Gadson, Thompson lead Rider past Lehigh 86-71

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — Novar Gadson scored 20 points and Ryan Thompson added 19 to lead Rider past Lehigh 86-71 on Monday night.

The Broncs (2-0) made a school-record 16 3-pointers, including their first five en route to a 19-3 lead. Rider, which attempted 29 3-point shots, broke its previous record of 15 set in a 102-51 win over Canisius on Jan. 6, 2008.

Gadson scored eight points during the early run and tallied 13 at halftime for a 40-29 Rider advantage.

Gadson and Thompson had seven rebounds each, and Thompson chipped in with five assists.

The Broncs, who last began a season 2-0 during the 2003-04 slate, also had 14 points from Justin Robinson.

CJ McCollum, who scored 13 points for the Mountain Hawks (0-2), helped cut the deficit to 60-55 with 6:44 remaining in the game. McCollum scored eight points during a 15-3 Lehigh run, but the Mountain Hawks wouldn’t get any closer.