John Williams Scores 22 To Lead Men's Basketball To 70-62 Win Over Adelphi

SMITHFIELD, RI -   Bryant’s John Williams (Springfield, Mass.) scored a game-high 22 points while sophomore Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) came off the bench to add 14 points and five rebounds as the Bulldogs opened the season with a 70-62 non-conference win over Adelphi at the Chace Athletic Center Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs overcame a sluggish start to pull out the victory.  Adelphi (0-1) shot a blistering 58.6 percent from the floor in the first half,  racing out to an early 33-20 lead following a lay up by Eric Martin (Laurelton, NY) with 4:55 left.  The Panthers led 38-24 following an easy bucket inside from Ben Kenyon (Union, NJ) and took a 38-26 lead into the locker room at the half.

The second half was a different story as Bryant outscored the visitors, 44-24 in the final stanza.  A William’s three-pointer with 13:41 left cut the lead to 41-37.  Adelphi’s Jamaal Wagner (Jamaica, NY) would answer with a three-pointer of his own, but after Bryant freshman Nick Pontes (Plymouth, Mass.) drained a pair of free throws, Ezeokoli was fouled on an offensive put-back and put the Bryant ahead, 47-46 with a pair of free throws with 9:33 left to play.   Pontes would finish with 10 points and eight rebounds – four coming on the offensive end. 

The Bulldogs would not trail again in the game as a late 10-2 run by the Bulldogs kept the lead safe.  Bryant shot 40.7 from the floor for the game as the Bulldogs made 18 of 27 free throws in the game and out-rebounded Adelphi 40 to 35. 

The Panthers were led by Wagner’s 17 points while Martin chipped in with 13 points and Kenyon added 10.  Adelphi shot 46.4 percent from the floor but turned the ball over 17 times. 
The Bulldogs travel to the University of Bridgeport tournament this weekend where they will face Bridgeport on Saturday and NYIT on Sunday.