BULLDOGS BATTLE #2 UCONN SATURDAY AFTERNOON; GAME BROADCAST ON ESPN360

November 25, 2008

Game Notes / ESPN360 VIDEO

BULLDOGS BATTLE #2 UCONN SATURDAY AFTERNOON

UPDATE
The Bryant men's basketball team heads to Hartford, Connecticut  to battle the #2 Huskies after picking up their first Division I win, 59-50, over Quinnipiac in the Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic on Saturday November 22nd. Junior Cecil Gresham scored a game-high 21 points on 7-for-8 shooting including five three-pointers to help pace Bryant to the victory. Gresham was named to the All-Tournament team, averaging 23 points per game over the weekend. As a team, Bryant shot 48.9 percent from the field while connecting on nine three-pointers and holding the Bobcats to just 36.4 percent shooting. Andrew Lyell helped on the boards, leading the team in rebounds against Columbia (5) and Quinnipiac (8). Point guard Chris Birrell also registered double-figures with ten points while dishing out six assists.

University of Connecticut
The second ranked Huskies come into today's game unbeaten thus far after winning the Paradise Jam, beating No. 19 Wisconsin, 76-57, in the championship game. Jerome Dyson put in a game-high 21 points while Hasheem Thabeet was named tournament MVP. UConn has rolled over most of its competition thus far, including a 13-point win over No. 17 Miami in the semi-final game of the tournament. The Huskies have won just one game by fewer than 10 points, an 89-81 victory over La Salle. Dyson has led the way scoring for the Huskies with 18.2 points per game, while both Thabeet and Jeff Adrien are averaging double-doubles in points and rebounds.

BRYANT AND UCONN
The Bulldogs and Huskies have me four times in exhibition contests in each of the last four years. UConn has won all four of those games including a 100-65 victory last season.

ON THE REBOUND
The Bulldogs have been outrebounded in each of their first three contests including surrendering 40 offensive rebounds. Bryant allowed a season-high 16 offensive boards to Quinnipiac, but held the Bobcats to just five second-chance points.

GRESHAM IMPRESSES AT COLUMBIA CLASSIC
Junior forward Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, Conn. / MCI) averaged 23 points per game while earning all-tournament team honors at the Columbia Classic November 21st and 22nd. Gresham started off the weekend with a 25 point performance, going 7-for-16 from the floor and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. The junior continued his hot shooting against Quinnipiac, connecting on seven of his eight field goal attempts including five three-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points.

LYELL EARNS A START
Senior forward Andrew Lyell (Portsmouth, R.I. /  Portsmouth)earned his second career start against Quinnipiac last Saturday. Lyell scored eight points, including a three to ice the game with 30 seconds left as the shot clock expired. He leads the team averaging six rebounds per game.

BULLDOGS SIGN FOUR STUDENT-ATHLETES TO LETTERS OF INTENT
Bryant University head men's basketball coach Tim O'Shea is pleased to announce the signing of student-athletes Erick Smith (Bel Air, Md.), Raphael Jordan (Bel Air, Md.), Alex Herzing (Lynchburg, Va.) and Vladyslav Kondratyev (Gainesville, Fla.) to National Letters of Intent to enroll at Bryant University in 2009.

Erick Smith, 6-3, Guard, Bel Air, Md. / John Carroll School
Raphael Jordan, 6-1, Guard, Bel Air, Md. /  John Carroll School
Alex Herzing, 7-0, Center, Lynchburg, Va. / The Hill School
Vladyslav Kondratyev, 6-8, Forward, Gainesville, Fla. / The Rock School

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will travel to Albany to take on the Great Danes in the second match-up between the teams this season. Albany beat the Bulldogs in Smithfield, RI, 76-67 in Bryant's season opener.

BRYANT TO JOIN NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
Last 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. 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. 

BRYANT BASKETBALL ON WOON AND WJMF RADIO
Bryant University basketball games can be heard live on WOON-AM 1240, the home of Bryant Sports, throughout the basketball season.  All home games and select road games will be carried live with Jon Wallach calling the action. Bryant's student radio station, WJMF will also broadcast home games this year.  All home games will also be made available for viewing online courtesy of Penn Atlantic.