January 7, 2007
MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS ASSUMPTION TUESDAY NIGHT
Time: 7:30 pm, Smithfield, RI
AUDIO / LIVE STATS / VIDEO / GAME NOTES (pdf)
The Bryant men's basketball team looks to rebound from last Saturday's 85-72 loss at Saint Rose Tuesday evening when the Bulldogs host Assumption College. Tipoff at the Chace Athletic Center is set for 7:30 p.m. This will be the second meeting of the year between the Bulldogs and Greyhounds. Assumption rallied for a 69-66 win in Worcester, MA back on Nov. 28. Bryant let a 10 point lead in the second half slip away. Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) led all scorers with 19 points in the game as Bryant shot just 29 percent in the second half from the floor.
BULLDOG UPDATE
Saturday's loss to Saint Rose snapped a four-game win
streak dating back to a 51-50 win at Adelphi back on Dec. 21.
The Bulldogs are 5-2 at home this season with the two losses coming
against Bentley and Stonehill in December. Jon Ezeokoli
(South Orange, NJ) leads the way with a 15.7 ppg scoring average
while sophomore Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, CT) moved into second
with a 10.4 ppg average after netting a career-best 26 points
against Saint Rose Saturday. Bryant shot just 35 percent from
the floor in the game and turned the ball over 21 times resulting
in 28 points for Saint Rose. Bryant did hold a 42-35
rebounding advantage including 17 offensive boards leading to 14
points. Junior forward Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, OH) had 14
points and 10 rebounds. Bryant will travel to Pace Thursday (7:30
pm.).
CHARITY STRIPE
Bryant is shooting 73.4 percent from the free throw line this year
and has made 82.5 percent from the line in the past four
games. The Bulldogs have made 71 of 86 free throws during
that stretch including a perfect 15-for-15 against Merrimack.
Last time out, the Bulldogs attempted a season-high 28 free throws,
making a season-best 22 against Saint Rose.
STILL TALKING ABOUT THE MERRIMACK GAME
* The previous record for three's in a game was 8 held by
Chris Burns (twice) and Jason Bennett (vs. Merrimack in
1999).
* Bryant made 13 three's in the game. The school record for
three's in a game is 16 coming against Bridgeport in 2005.
The Bulldogs had 14 three's earlier this year (6 by Lambert) in a
loss at Saint Anselm.
* The 86 points scored was a season-high. Bryant had 44
points at the half.
* The 29 field goals made was also a season-best as were the 21
team assists.
* The win was the 122nd for coach Max Good at Bryant (122-79) and
his 231st (231-217) all-time spanning 16 seasons. Good is four wins
shy of tying Leon Drury (126-182 from 1978-1989) for second
all-time for coaching victories at Bryant. Tom Foliard won
174 games from 1968 to 1978.
* Bryant's bench out-scored Merrimack's 40 to 7 in the game.
CECIL HITS HIS STRIDE
Sophomore guard Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, CT) scored a career-high
26 against Saint Rose on Saturday. He was 8 for 16 from the
floor and 5 for 7 from three-point range. Gresham has scored
in double figures in three-straight games and six overall. Gresham
is averaging 10.4 ppg and has 19 three's this season.
BIRRELL IS BACK
Sophomore Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) missed the
Philadelphia game with an ankle injury but returned to the lineup
last Wednesday against Merrimack, coming off the bench to score
five points and hand out a season-best eight assists.
HOLIDAY PICKUP
With the holidays in the rear view mirror, it's time for the
Bulldogs to start getting down to business. Over the past few
seasons, Bryant has traditionally started slow out of the game only
to put together a strong push to the playoffs that has resulted in
four-straight NCAA appearances. Last year, Bryant was 7-4
following the holiday tournament and proceeded to win seven of its
next eight enroute to a 21-11 season. In 2005-06, the
Bulldogs were 7-3 after the holiday tournament and won 6 of their
next 9, finishing 21-10. In 2004-05, Bryant was 6-3 following
the Christmas Tournament but opened January by winning 12 of its
next 15 and kick-starting its run to the national championship
game.
EZEOKOLI DOUBLES
Senior Jon Ezeokoli has scored in double figures in 56 of 108
career games at Bryant. The guard came into the season with 43
double-figure scoring games and has reached double figures in 13 of
14 games. The only game he didn't reach the mark was a seven-point
effort at Assumption. He had a season-best 26 points against
Franklin Pierce. His career-best is 30 at CW Post last
season. His most recent double-double was not of the conventional
variety with 20 points and 10 assists vs. Merrimack on Jan. 3.
NOW THAT'S A LITTLE BETTER
Since scoring 45 points in a loss to Bentley on Dec. 4, Bryant is
averaging 64 points per game (allowing 58) and out-rebounding
opponents by 3.7 rebounds per game.
IT'S WINNING TIME
Senior Jon Ezeokoli is averaging a team-best 2.6 points in
the final five minutes of games this season. The guard has 34
points and has made 21 of 27 free throws during the final five
minutes. Chris Birrell is next with 22 points and has made 14
of 17 free throws with the game on the line.
BRYANT TO JOIN NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
In October, Bryant officially accepted an invitation to
join the Division I Northeast Conference. The school will
begin a four-year transition to Division I and become a full member
of the Northeast Conference in the fall of 2012. This will be
Bryant's final season as a member of the Division II ranks and will
begin a Division I schedule in 2008-09. Bryant will not be
eligible for conference or NCAA postseason play during the
four-year transition period. The Northeast Conference
includes members: Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson,
Long Island, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris,
Sacred Heart, St. Francis NY, St. Francis PA, and Wagner.
BULLDOGS ON TV
In addition to the Bulldogs appearing on NE10.tv each night, the
Feb. 2 game at Bentley will be broadcast live online on
CSTV.com. For the second consecutive year, Bryant will also
play live to the local community with an appearance on Cox Sports
TV-3 February 16 when the Bulldogs host Southern Connecticut.
