Bulldog Cagers Look to Rebound Tuesday Night vs. Merrimack

January 10, 2005

BULLDOG MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES ...

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After three conference games last week, the Bulldogs are back at it with two more Northeast-10 games this week starting Tuesday night when Merrimack comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. start at the Chace Athletic Center. The Bulldogs will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid before Assumption comes to town on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.

Last week, the Bulldogs opened the week with an impressive 90-62 win at Assumption for its fifth-straight victory. The streak, however, came to a halt Thursday as ninth-ranked Bentley handed Bryant its third home loss of the year, 76-69. John Williams had 23 points against Assumption and had 18 against Bentley, however the junior suffered a hip injury in the contest and did not suit up for Saturday’s encounter with Stonehill.

Without Williams in the lineup, the Bulldogs could not match the Chieftains offensively, falling 79-58 at Merkert Gymnasium. The 58 points, 20 field goals, and 33.9 FG percentage were season lows for Bryant. The 79 points scored by Stonehill were the second most allowed by Bryant (93 by Saint Rose) this season.

This will be the first of two meetings between Bryant and Merrimack with the two teams meeting against Feb. 21 in Andover, Mass. Bryant won last year’s only meeting, 81-71 at the Chace Athletic Center.

LOOKING AT MERRIMACK

The Warriors (8-5, 4-4 NE-10) enter Tuesdays game riding a three-game losing streak. Merrimack dropped an 81-73 decision at home to AIC Saturday. The Warriors opened the year with four-straight impressive wins (UMass Lowell, Adelphi, East Stroudsburg, and Assumption). Pierre Dowling leads four players averaging double figures in scoring with 16.3 ppg. Bobby Murgo is second with 14.3 ppg while Mickey Burtnyck is third with 12.9.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE

Bryant is currently second in the conference in scoring defense (67.0 ppg) behind Southern N.H.’s 66.0 points allowed per game. The Bulldogs are second in FG% defense at a Ted William’s like .406 and second in the conference in blocked shots at 4.50 per game (54 total).

LONG-RANGE SPECIALTY

Junior John Williams lead the Northeast-10 with 3.45 three-point field goals made per game this year AND in 3-point FG percentage at 50.7 percent. Williams has made 38 of 75 from beyond the arc this year.

AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR

After 12 games this year, Bryant is 7-5 overall. Last year, after 12 games, the Bulldogs were 10-2 heading into a road win at Caldwell College.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will host Assumption Saturday at the Chace Athletic Center starting at 3:30 p.m. After Saturday, three of the team’s next four games will be away from home.

BIG MIKE CHASES CLIMBING THE GLASS AND THE RECORD BOOK

Senior Mike Williams became the 28th player in Bryant school history to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career Dec. 20 in the team’s win at Holy Family in Philadelphia. Williams had 21 points in the game and reached the milestone by converting a free throw after scoring a basket inside and was fouled with 8:48 left in the first half. Williams, the owner of Bryant’s school career blocks (246) and single season blocks (90) records, has 807 career rebounds (3rd all-time). Williams needs 62 rebounds to pass former teammate Jason Noel (868) for second. Ernie DeWitt’s is the all-time rebound leader with 1,036.

BULLDOG BITES

Bryant is coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1982 ... Tuesday’s game with Merrimack will be the 101st game coached by Max Good at Bryant. It will also be Good’s 348th as a head coach in 13 seasons ... After posting a 12-3 record at home last season, the Bulldogs are 4-3 this year at the Chace Athletic Center ... The Bentley loss was just the second time Bryant has dropped a game when leading at the half (7-2).