SMITHFIELD, RI – Trailing American International by one, 37-36 at the half, the Bryant University men's basketball team began the second half with a quick offensive surge, using a 20-8 run to regain the lead and roll to a 78-65 Northeast-10 Conference win at the Chace Athletic Center Monday night.

Bryant (11-5, 6-5 NE-10), behind a game-high 21 points from senior guard John Williams (Springfield, MA), shook off a slow start and closed out the game shooting 64.0 percent from the floor in the second half to earn its second-straight win. 

Leading 54-45 midway through the second half, Bryant took advantage of its quickness as three-straight steals led to six fast-break points as back-to-back steals led to easy buckets by Williams and Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) as the Bulldogs quickly led 62-47.

A Lucious Millander put-back pulled AIC to within 65-52, but a baseline three by Bryant's Nate Sudlow (Brooklyn, NY) followed by a Williams pull-up in the lane and a three by Dan Hammond (Brunswick, ME) closed the door on the Yellow Jackets.

Ezeokoli had 18 points and eight rebounds while Hammond added 12 points and five rebounds.  Chris Burns (Merrimack, NH) chipped in with 15 points and five assists.

AIC (8-7, 4-6 NE-10) was led by John Huggins' 20 points while Jenar Harrison added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets.

Bryant will return to action on Saturday afternoon, hosting Saint Rose for a 3:30 pm Northeast-10 Conference game.