SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Jenar Harrison's short jumper in the lane with 1:35 left gave host American International its first lead of the game and the victory as the Bryant University men's basketball team dropped its first game of the season, 67-65 Tuesday night in the Northeast-10 Conference opener. 
 
The loss spoiled a stellar performance from Bryant senior guard John Williams (Springfield, Mass.) who torched the Butova Gym nets for 27 points on the night including five three-pointers from long range.
 
Bryant led 63-54 following a deep three-pointer from the top of the key by Williams with 6:30 left to play.  AIC would use a 13-2 run to close out the game and take its first lead of the night on Harrison's bucket.  The Yellow Jackets hurt the Bulldogs on the glass, out-rebounding Bryant 36-26 in the game as AIC picked up 15 offensive boards.
 
The Bulldogs led 32-28 at the half as Williams netted 14 first half points.  The Bulldogs would not relinquish its lead, though AIC would rally back to tie the game four times in the second half. 
 
AIC (2-1, 1-0 NE-10) got 21 points from senior guard John Huggins who was 7 of 13 from the floor.  Harrison had 17 points to go with his six rebounds, four assists, and five blocks.  Magen McNeil added 13 points on 6 of 8 shooting plus had seven rebounds on the night. 
 
Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) was the only other Bryant player to reach double figures on the night, finishing with 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.  The Bulldogs attempted just four free throws compared to AIC's 17 in the game.
 
The Bulldogs will travel to Saint Rose on Sunday for a Northeast-10 Conference game starting at 3:30 p.m. in Albany, NY.
 
 
Bryant vs American International
11/22/05 7:30 pm at Butova Gymnasium - Springfield, Mass.
At Butova Gymnasium - Springfield, Mass.
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 67, BRYANT 65

BRYANT (3-1 (0-1 NE-10))
John Williams 11-21 0-0 27; Jon Ezeokoli 5-8 0-0 12; Nathaniel Sudlow 3-5
3-4 9; Nick Pontes 3-4 0-0 6; Chris Burns 2-9 0-0 4; Dan Hammond 1-2 0-0 3;
AJ Mahar 1-2 0-0 2; Jarrenn Wright 1-3 0-0 2; John Fogarty 0-2 0-0 0. Totals
27-56 3-4 65.

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL (2-1 (1-0 NE-10))
John Huggins 7-13 4-5 21; Jenar Harrison 8-10 1-2 17; Magen McNeil 6-8 1-2
13; Dexter Gregory 1-6 5-8 7; Alonzo Brown 2-11 0-0 5; Levi Huncovsky 2-7
0-0 4; Vernon Dupree 0-0 0-0 0; Jeff Dosado 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-56 11-17
67.

Halftime 32-28 Bryant
3-point goals-Bryant 8-21 (John Williams 5-9; Jon Ezeokoli 2-3; Dan Hammond
1-2; Chris Burns 0-5; AJ Mahar 0-1; Nathaniel Sudlow 0-1), American
International 4-15 (John Huggins 3-6; Alonzo Brown 1-5; Magen McNeil 0-1;
Levi Huncovsky 0-2; Jeff Dosado 0-1). Fouled out--Bryant-Dan Hammond,
American International-None. Rebounds-Bryant 26 (Jon Ezeokoli 8), American
International 36 (Alonzo Brown 7; Magen McNeil 7). Assists-Bryant 11 (Chris
Burns 3), American International 13 (Jenar Harrison 4; Alonzo Brown 4).
Total fouls-Bryant 15, American International 13. A-247