Valentine's day leads Rider over Niagara 77-59

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) Shawn Valentine scored 17 points and Rider cruised past Niagara 77-59 on Sunday.

Valentine was 9 of 11 from the line, grabbed six rebounds and blocked five shots for the Broncs (11-16, 7-9 Metro Atlantic). Xavier Lundy scored 13 points and Khalil Alford had 12 points. Kahlil Thomas and Jimmie Taylor had 10 apiece, and Thomas hauled in 10 rebounds. Rider had 17 assists on 24 makes and blocked 10 shots.

Emile Blackman led Niagara (6-21, 4-12 Metro Atlantic) with 21 points, and Dominic Robb had 10.

Rider used a 17-3 run midway through the first half - including back-to-back 3-pointers by Valentine and Kealen Ives - to go up 31-15, and the Broncs led 41-25 at the half.

Rider went up by 20 on a pair of free throws by Khalil Thomas with 11:33 left.