December 3, 2007

MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS TOP-RANKED BENTLEY TUESDAY NIGHT

Audio Broadcast /  Video Web Cast /  Live Stats  / Game Notes

BRYANT UPDATE
* The Bryant men's basketball team hosts No. 1 Bentley College Tuesday evening at the Chace Athletic Center.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm.  This will be the first of two meetings this year between the two NE-10 Conference rival schools with the teams scheduled to meet February 2 in Waltham, Mass.  This will be the first meeting since Bentley ended Bryant's season last year with a 63-54 win in the NCAA Regional Championship on March 13.  Bentley won all four meetings last year including a 78-76 win in the Falcons' last visit to Smithfield, RI. 

* The Bulldogs are coming off a 70-52 win over UMass Lowell on Saturday.  Jon Ezeokoli had 16 points in the game while freshman Barry Latham had 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks.  The Bulldogs are 2-0 at home this year. 
* Bentley is coming off a 75-64 win over Assumption Saturday in Worcester, Mass.  The Falcons, winners of 27 straight conference regular season games, got 17 points and five rebounds off the bench from Nate Fritsch and freshman Brian Tracey added 16. 

*  Bryant will travel to Southern New Hampshire Saturday before returning home to host Stonehill on Wed., Dec. 12.  

BRYANT BENTLEY SERIES TIDBITS
* Bentley has won four straight against the Bulldogs. Bryant had won three in-a-row prior. 
* Max Good is 4-9 against Bentley since arriving at Bryant in 2001-02.
* Bryant's last win against Bentley was an 88-78 double overtime thriller at the Chace Center on Feb. 18, 2006.  Bentley was ranked No. 20 at the time. 

BULLDOGS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
* Tuesday's showdown will be the highest ranked opponent Bryant has faced in the regular season.  In 2002-03, Bryant defeated UMass Lowell at home, 78-72.  The River Hawks were ranked No. 2 nationally at the time. 

BULLDOGS ON THE AIR
Fans can catch all of the action this year by tuning into www.bryantbulldogs.com with Pat Sullivan and Jared Hager calling all of the action at no cost to the listener.  For the second straight year, fans can watch selected games through www.NE10.tv at a cost of $6.99 per game. Also this year, you can track each game live online with LIVE STATS through www.bryantbulldogs.com. 

NOTABLES
* Sophomore Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) is second on the team with 13.0 ppg and has 12 made three-pointers.  Birrell has started every game at the point this year.
* Bryant is 2-0 at home this season. Last year, the Bulldogs were 13-1 at home with the lone loss coming to Bentley on Feb. 3. 
* Bryant has trailed at the half only twice (at Bridgeport - loss;  vs. Franklin Pierce - win).