NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior guard John Williams (Springfield, Mass.) scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lead the Bryant University men's basketball team to a 69-58 win over Southern Connecticut Saturday at the James Moore Fieldhouse in New Haven. 

    Held to just two free throws in the first half, Williams exploded offensively in the second half, draining four 3-point field goals and making seven of his nine free throws in the second to help Bryant even its record in the Northeast-10 Conference at 2-2 (5-2 overall). 

    Leading 29-23 at the half, Southern Connecticut (1-3, 1-3 NE-10) scored the first six points of the second half to tie the game at 29-29 with 17:25 left.  The Bulldogs would answer as Chris Burns (Merrimack, NH) drained a three-pointer from the top of the key and moments later, Williams hit his first three of the half to give Bryant a 36-29 advantage with just over 13 minutes to go.

    Strong rebounding and an 8-0 run helped pull Southern to within 37-39 following a jumper in the lane by Danny Miller with 10:34 left on the clock.
     But following a Bryant timeout, Williams gave Bryant a little breathing room by calmly sinking a three from the top of the key and the Bulldogs never looked back.  Bryant would close out the game by making seven of 12 free throws in the final three minutes.

     Burns finished the game with 13 points including 3 of 10 three-point attempts.  Dan Hammond (Brunswick, Maine)  (pictured) grabbed 11 rebounds to go with his three points, two assists and two steals.  Nathaniel Sudlow (Brooklyn, NY) and Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) each had nine points.  Bryant shot 39.2 percent from the floor in the game and made 10 of 25 from three-point range. 

    Southern was led by Kevin Diffley's 11 points while Seton Hall transfer Alex Gambino had 10 points and seven rebounds.

    The Bulldogs will return to action next Saturday when they visit Stonehill College for a 3:30 pm game in Easton, Mass.