Saturday, November 29th, 3:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Alumni Gymnasium (1,500) -- Lawrencville, New Jersey. Television: None. Home Record: CS Northridge 1-0, Rider 0-0. Away Record: CS Northridge 0-3, Rider 2-1. Neutral Record: CS Northridge 0-0, Rider 0-0. Conference Record: CS Northridge 0-0, Rider 0-0. Series Record: Rider leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: Cal State Northridge continues its six-game road trip today in the Garden State, as the Matadors take on the Rider Broncs in a non-conference tilt at Alumni Gymnasium. The Matadors have hit a rough patch of late, dropping three consecutive decisions after opening the 2008-09 campaign with a 73-62 win over Cal Lutheran. The club's most recent setback, an 85-74 final at New Mexico, dropped the Matadors to 1-3 on the season. Rider is off to a 2-1 start, recovering from a season-opening loss to Saint Joseph's with back-to- back wins over Lehigh and Lafayette. This games marks the Broncs' home opener. Rider won the only previous meeting between these two teams.

The Matadors shot a meager 31.3 percent from the field in Monday's 11-point loss to New Mexico, including a 10-of-29 showing from three-point range. The Matadors were guilty of 21 turnovers as well. Willie Galick scored 17 points and collected nine rebounds to lead the Matadors in the losing effort, while Deon Tresvant tallied 16 points to go with five assists. Tremaine Townsend contributed 11 points and grabbed nine boards. The Matadors are shooting 44 percent from the floor here in the early going, and as a result are averaging 74.2 ppg. The club boasts four starters with double-digit scoring averages, beginning with Josh Jenkins and his 13.3 ppg. Jenkins is followed by Galick, who is responsible for 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Tresvant has also been a consistent source for points early, chipping in 10.5 ppg, followed by Rob Haynes and his 10.3 ppg.

The Broncs posted an 84-77 victory over Lafayette last Sunday, shooting 49.2 percent from the floor. However, they went just 14-of-25 at the charity stripe. The Broncs owned Lafayette in the paint and forced 18 turnovers. Ryan Thompson posted a game-high 25 points in the win, and collected 11 rebounds while Harris Mansell tallied 20 points. Novar Gadson chipped in 10 points to go with eight rebounds for the Broncs. Thompson leads Rider in both scoring and rebounding so far this season, as he averages 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Mansell also owns a double-figure scoring average with 13.0 ppg, while Novar Gadson chips in 11.3 ppg to go with 5.0 rpg.

CS Northridge is struggling a bit right now, while Rider and its fans will no doubt be amped up for the home opener.

Predicted Outcome

Rider 82, Cal State Northridge 69