Bryant Men Put Scare Into Top-Ranked Bentley Before Coming Up Short, 69-68 Saturday
February 2, 2008
TOP-RANKED BENTLEY SURVIVES A SCARE 69-68
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| Cecil Greshman's three-pointer with seven seconds left put the Bulldogs ahead 68-67 against top-ranked Bentley College Saturday. The Falcons would escape, winning 68-68 at the buzzer. www.dspics.com |
WALTHAM, MA - Bryant's Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, CT) drained a three-pointer with 7 seconds left to put the visitors ahead and the Bulldogs had the best team in Division II on the ropes Saturday afternoon.
But Bentley had the answer once again as Yusuf Abdul-Ali, held to just 1 of 9 shooting and four turnovers by the Bulldog defense before Gresham's shot, drove the lane on the Falcons' ensuing possession and scored the game-winner off the glass as time expired to keep its perfect record intact.
The game was another classic by the two Northeast-10 Conference rivals, and perhaps the final meeting before Bryant moves to Division I next year unless the two squads meet up again in the postseason. Saturday's game featured 13 lead changes and nine ties in the game.
Bryant (12-9, 8-8 NE-10) fell behind 57-53 with a little over six minutes left, but managed to draw even at 65-65 with a minute to go. With a chance to take the lead, guard Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) would miss a three-point attempt with 56 seconds left and Bentley's Jason Westrol would answer with a drive in the lane to put the hosts up 67-65 with 25 seconds remaining on the Dana Center clock.
Following a timeout to draw up a play, Bryant would work the ball around the perimeter. With Bentley, over-playing Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ), Birrell found a wide open Gresham who drained a deep three from the right side to put the Bulldogs ahead 69-68 and the Bulldogs nearly had the upset before Ali's heroics.
Bentley (20-0, 15-0 NE-10) has now won 50-straight against Northeast-10 teams and is now 58-1 in its previous 59 games. The lone loss was to Bryant in double overtime in Smithfield, RI.
Bryant trailed by only a point at the half, 32-31 taking a 13-9 in the early moments. Bentley would counter with a 14-2 run to race back out in front 23-15. Birrell would knock down a pair of trey's before picking up his second foul with 3:09 left before halftime. Reserve Ray Witkos (Easthampton, MA) entered the game for Birrell and was fouled immediately attempting a three by Bentley's Westrol. Witkos sank all three free throws to pull the Bulldogs even 26-26.
Birrell had another fine game on both ends of the floor. The sophomore finished with 17 points and six assists in 36 minutes. Ezeokoli, who had 11 first half points, added 17 points while Gresham chipped in with 14 plus four boards
Bentley was led by Westrol's 17 points while Lew Finnegan had 17.
Bryant will return to action this Tuesday when the Bulldogs travel to Franklin Pierce for a 7:30 p.m. game in Rindge, N.H.
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Post Game Notes ...
* Bryant enters the week ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Northeast Region.
* Max Good is currently tied with Leon Drury for second all-time in school history with 126 coaching victories. Tom Foliard is the all-time leader with 174 victories.
* Bentley went 32-1 last year and this year defeated defending NCAA Division II champion Barton, 71-46 in Shephersdtown, WV. Six of Bentley's last 12 games have only been decided until the final seconds or in OT. Bentley has been ranked No. 1 in eight straight polls.
* Bentley came into the game ranked seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense (38.5) and 9th in scoring margin (plus 16.6). The Falcons are also ranked third nationally with just 14 fouls called against them on average. They were whistled for 10 against Bryant Saturday.
* Bryant has now lost six-straight to Bentley including four matchups last year. The Falcons won the first matchup, 68-45 back on Dec. 4 in Smithfield, RI.
* Bryant was out-rebounded 31 to 29 marking only the fourth time Bryant has been out-rebounded in a game.
