December 6, 2007

Bryant Men Return to Action Saturday at Southern New Hampshire

GAME NOTES (PDF)  / RADIO (SNHU)

BRYANT UPDATE
* The Bryant men's basketball team looks to rebound from Tuesday's 68-45 loss to No. 1 Bentley when the Bulldogs head to New Hampshire for the second time this year to take on the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire this Saturday afternoon.  Tipoff in Manchester, NH is set for 3:30 p.m. 

* Bryant won both meetings with SNHU last season, picking up a 76-46 win at home on Dec. 5 behind Jon Ezeokoli's 14 points, and following with a 67-60 win in Manchester, NH on Feb. 17 behind Ezeokoli's 23 point effort.  The Bulldogs have won four straight against the Penmen.  The last loss in the series came back in 2003-04 when Bryant fell 76-55 on the road.  This is the first of two meetings between the two schools. Bryant and SNHU will play at the Chace Center on Jan. 16. 

* Senior guard Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) leads the way 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 Saturday's game scoring 11.6 ppg.  Birrell leads the conference with 21 steals and is shooting 85.7 percent at the line (18 for 21).  Ezeokoli, a third-team all-conference selection, has made 20 of 25 (80.0 percent) at the stripe and is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game.

LOOKING AT SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Southern NH (2-4, 1-4 NE-10) comes into Saturday's game looking to snap a three game losing skid.  The Penmen have wins over New Haven and Le Moyne but have dropped conference games against Stonehill, Saint Rose, Pace, and Saint Anselm.  Sam Carey leads the way with 14.8 ppg and 10.5 rebounds per game (second in the NE-10).  Gerald Carter is next with 13.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg.  The Penmen have made just 23 three's, compared to Bryant's 49 made on the year.   

COMING UP
* Bryant will return home to host Stonehill College on Wednesday, Dec. 12 before stepping 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).