Men's Basketball Clamps Down On Defense In 62-48 Win Over Assumption Wednesday
November 29, 2006
BRYANT MEN DEFEAT ASSUMPTION 62-48 WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Sudlow Picks Up Career-Best 7 Steals In Bulldog Win
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| Senior Nate Sudlow had 15 points and a career-high 7 steals in Bryant's win over Assumption Wednesday night. |
SMITHFIELD, RI - Senior guard Chris Burns (Merrimack, NH) paced three players in double figures Wednesday night as the Bryant University men's basketball team defeated visiting Assumption, 62-48 in Northeast-10 Conference action at the Chace Athletic Center.
Searching for a solid win after a disappointing overtime loss at Franklin Pierce Sunday, the Bulldogs got the defensive effort coach Max Good was looking for.
After a tough first half that saw the Bulldogs take a 27-23 lead into the locker room at the half, despite shooting 34.4 percent from the floor and turning the ball over 16 times, the Bulldogs outscored Assumption 21-9 over the first 10 minutes of the second half and never looked back.
Bryant's (3-2, 2-1 NE-10) Dan Hammond (Brunswick, Maine) drained a baseline three-pointer to kick-start the run as Bryant stepped up the defensive effort in forcing Assumption in several tough shots and costly turnovers to extend the lead. Assumption, with just nine turnovers at the half, turned the ball over 16 times in the second half leading to 24 Bryant points.
Assumption (2-3, 2-1 NE-10) would use a late 11-1 spurt keyed by a pair of three's from Leroy Byron (team-high 15 points) to close to within 54-45 late, but five Nate Sudlow (Brooklyn, NY) free throws in the closing minute helped keep the Greyhounds at bay and give the Bulldogs the win. Sudlow finished with 15 points and had a career-best seven steals in the game.
Burns was 3 for 8 from beyond the arc and made all seven free throw attempts as Bryant shot just 38.5 percent from the field in the game. The Bulldogs took much better care of the ball in the second half, turning it over just twice.
Assumption, which out-rebounded Bryant 40 to 35, finished with 25 turnovers in the game and shot just 31.4 percent from the floor on 16 of 51 shooting. Corey Diethorn had 10 point and nine rebounds.
Bryant will travel to UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon for a Northeast-10 Conference meeting at Costello Gym starting at 3:30 p.m. The River Hawks knocked Stonehill, 75-74 Wednesday night.
