Rider vs Merrimack Picks and Predictions for Thursday December 4, 2025

By: Kim Smith Published 12/04/2025, 01:55 AM ET

Rider and Merrimack meet at Hammel Court in North Andover with tipoff set for 7:00 PM EST on ESPN+. Rider is just 1–5 and still searching for an identity, while Merrimack sits at 3–6 but brings its trademark pressure defense and a strong analytics edge into this MAAC matchup. Make sure you check out the full and free college basketball picks.

Rider Preview

Rider comes in at 1–5, riding a three-game losing streak. The Broncs’ lone win was a home blowout over Eastern PA, but against Division I competition they’ve been overwhelmed. Their most recent outing was a 68–65 neutral-site loss to Coppin State, a game that again exposed their offensive inconsistency.

On the season, Rider is scoring just 61.2 points per game while giving up 80.0, a massive negative differential. They’re pulling down 39.5 rebounds, but the offense is sputtering with only 8.3 assists per game, which tells you how stagnant their half-court sets can get. Turnovers and poor shot selection have been a recurring theme.

Cruz leads the team at 11.5 points per game, but he’s shooting only 33.3% from the field, which underscores the inefficiency on that end. Rider will need to slow the game, win the glass, and drastically improve its perimeter shooting to stay inside this number on the road.

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Merrimack Preview

Merrimack sits at 3–6, but that record is a bit misleading given their schedule and style. The Warriors are coming off a solid 66–60 win over La Salle, and they’ve already shown they can hang with bigger programs when their disruptive defense is dialed in.

The Warriors average 64.7 points per game while allowing 76.1, but their calling card is still pressure and turnovers, not raw defensive points allowed. They only grab 28.7 rebounds per game, yet they compensate with 7.8 steals and nearly 4 blocks, fueled by aggressive trapping and ball-pressure. Offensively, they share the ball better than Rider with 11.9 assists per game.

Shelton is the offensive engine, putting up 16.6 points per game on 41.0% shooting and 84.2% from the line. He’s the type of lead guard who can exploit Rider’s shaky perimeter defense, especially in late-clock situations.

Rider vs Merrimack Pick

I’m laying the points with Merrimack here. Rider’s offensive profile — low scoring, poor efficiency, minimal ball movement — is a terrible fit against a pressure-heavy scheme like Merrimack’s. I expect the Warriors’ guards to bother Rider’s ball-handlers, force turnovers, and create easy transition looks.

Rider can keep things respectable for stretches with rebounding, but over 40 minutes Merrimack’s defensive pressure, home-court comfort, and more reliable go-to scorer in Shelton should tilt this game their way. I’m backing Merrimack to control the tempo, wear Rider down, and cover the spread at home. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for Rider with the Thrillz promo code. Make the most of your bets on Merrimack by using the sportsbook promos. Make sure when you place your Rider vs Merrimack bet you are using the bet365 bonus code.

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