Norville 'Banana' Carey played three seasons at Southern Mississippi before red-shirting last year with an injury. Photo: Provided

Norville 'Banana' Carey. Photo: Facebook

Holding a 47-37 lead with 16 minutes left to play, Rider went on a 21-7 run, four points each by Thomas, freshman Tyere Marshall (Philadelphia, PA/Putnam Science) and grad student Norville Carey (VI/Southern Miss.), to take a 68-44 lead with 8:00 left to play.

“Lily (Thomas) and Norville got off to slow starts, shooting too many perimeter jump shots but in the second half they went to the glass the way we need them to and scored around the basket,” Head Coach, Kevin Baggett said. “That was good to see.”

Marshall finished with six points and three rebounds. Carey added nine points, one steal, one assist and three rebounds. “I’ve settled in pretty easily,” Carey said since coming to Rider from Southern Mississippi. “I’m trying to bring my experiences to help the team. I’m still trying to get my legs back.”

“Norville is still trying to work out the kinks, having sat out last year and now playing for a different team but he picked it up in the second half,” Baggett said.

Carey played three seasons at Southern Mississippi before red-shirting last year with an injury.

Bloomsburg used a 7-0 run to take a 29-27 lead, before the Broncs ended the first half with an 11-0 run, six points by senior Xavier Lundy (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro), to take a 38-29 lead at the half. Lundy finished with 10 points and three rebounds.

Rider’s season begins November 11 at Hampton University. “I think we are ready to go,” Baggett said. “Hampton will be a challenge for us on the road to start the season. They were in the NCAA Tournament last year. We have our work cut out for us but I think we are ready.”