Ryan Thompson scored 24 points in Rider's 68-65 season-ending loss at Old Dominion in the first round of the new CBI tournament. That stat in itself isn't all that big of a news flash.

What is important here is that Thompson, the sophomore brother of the Broncs' senior star, didn't play in the MAAC tournament final against Siena, and folks around Trenton will forever wonder what might have happened if ALL the Broncos had played against Siena. Or at least more of the ones who played were 100 percent healthy.

Siena went two rounds in the NCAA Tournament, beating Vanderbilt and losing to Villanova.

Rider, meanwhile, finished with a 23-11 record, and at least got the chance to play another game. It didn't win that game -- Jason Thompson's last before he moves on to the NBA -- but the Broncos got to play; and this was a good season for Tommy Dempsey and his team.

"It was good to be back on the court after last weekend," said Ryan Thompson, talking about both himself and his team. "I didn't want this to be the last game I played with my brother. I was playing to win for him and the seniors more than I was for myself."

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