Bryant University Bulldogs Men's Basketball Hosts Stonehill Wednesday Night at 7:30 pm

Dec. 10, 2007

BRYANT MEN HOST STONEHILL WEDNESDAY NIGHT

BRYANT UPDATE
* The Bryant men's basketball team hosts Stonehill College (5-6, 3-3 NE-10) Wednesday evening at the Chace Athletic Center. Tipoff is at 7:30 pm. The Bulldogs are coming off a 62-54 win over Southern New Hampshire last Saturday while Stonehill will look to rebound from a 79-45 loss at Bentley over the weekend. The Bulldogs will be idle for exams before heading off to Adelphi for a non-conference game on Friday, Dec. 21.

* The Bulldogs split two meetings with Stonehill last season, falling 77-59 in the December matchup in Easton, Mass. The Bulldogs would cruise to a 70-55 win in the rematch at Smithfield behind 33 from former standout Chris Burns and seven rebounds from Cecil Gresham.

* Senior guard Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) leads the Bulldogs with 14.0 ppg on the season while sophomore guard Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) is the only other player averaging double figures this season as the transfer from CCRI comes into Wednesday's game scoring 10.8 ppg. Birrell leads the conference with 22 steals and is shooting 81 percent at the line (21-26). Ezeokoli, a third-team all-conference selection, has made 20 of 25 (80 percent) at the stripe and is averaging 5.4 rebounds per game.

LOOKING AT STONEHILL COLLEGE
The Skyhawks look to bounce back from Satursday's 79-45 loss at top-ranked Bentley in Waltham, MA. Stonehill shot just 16 percent (5 of 31) from the floor in the first half in trailing the Falcons, 40-14 at the break. AJ Rudowitz was the only player to reach double figures, scoring 10 points in the game. Nick Smith (3 pts vs. Bentley) leads the team with 16.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg while Matt Hall is next with 15.3 ppg. The combination of Hall, Smith, and Vince Rosario have accounted for 75 of the team's 96 made three's.

COMING UP
* Bryant will step out of league play with a visit to Adelphi on Friday, Dec. 21 (7 pm). Following Christmas break, the Bulldogs will host the Bryant Holiday Classic Dec. 28-29 with Assumption, Philadelphia, and Post University competing.

NOTABLES
* Former Bryant standout Chris Burns of Merrimack, NH is playing for the Albany Patroons of the CBA. He has not played yet this season due to an injury but recently rejoined the team.

* Burns joins other former teammates now playing professionally: Romauld Augustin (Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA Developmental League); Mike Williams (Irish National Team); Mario Correia (Africa); John Williams (France).

* Bryant and Stonehil each had 45 points against Bentley last week.