CIT Matchup: Rider To Play At Hartford In Opener

Here's another in the series previewing MAAC opponents in post-season play.

The Rider men's team is participating in the CollegeInsiders.com (CIT) event and will play ...

HARTFORD

GAME INFORMATION: Tuesday, 7 p.m., at Hartford's Chase Family Arena.

HARTFORD'S RECORD: 10-6 in the America East Conference, 17-12 overall.

HARTFORD'S KEY PLAYERS: 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Mark Nwakamma (14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds per game), 6-2 sophomore guard Yolonzo Moore II (9.4, 2.7, 2.6 assists), 6-6 sophomore forward Nate Sikma (7.6, 4.8, 2.5 assists), 6-0 freshman guard Evan Cooper (7.9, 2.1), 6-1 sophomore guard Corban Wroe (2.7, 2.1).

NOTES: Hartford's 17 victories is just one shy of matching the program's single-season best since it moved to the Division I level in 1984 ... The Hawks are one of the youngest teams nationally, and surely have one of... if not THE ... youngest starting lineup in the country. They start four sophomores and one freshmen ... Only one starter, sophomore Mark Nwakamma, returned from last season's team that finished 9-22 ... This year's roster includes four freshmen and six sophomores ... Sophomore forward Nate Sikma is the son of 7-time NBA all star center Jack Sikma ... Hartford's appearance in the CIT marks the program's first-ever trip to a national post-season tournament ... The program has a wide-range of players geographically with five from Texas, two from Australia, two from California and one each from Florida, Washington, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and New York, and none from Connecticut ... Hartford was 6-2 in its last eight regular-season games and, then, lost in the first round of its conference tournament... It met two MAAC teams during the season, losing to Niagara, 75-59; and, defeating Marist, 56-46.