BULLDOGS CAN'T HOLD ON LATE AS FRANKLIN PIERCE WINS 73-71

RINDGE, NH - Bryant's senior All-American guard John Williams scored a season-high 30 points but it was not enough as the Bryant men's basketball team missed key free throws down the stretch in falling to Franklin Pierce, 73-71 Saturday afternoon.  Bryant will return home to host UMass Lowell Wednesday at 3:30 pm.

Williams, who came up just seven points shy of his career best of 37 last season, made 9 of 21 from the floor - including 6 of 11 from three-point range in 40 minutes of action.  The senior had three steals and added three assists and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

Bryant (13-7, 8-7 NE-10) trailed Franklin Pierce, 42-34 at the half, but came out strong in the second, outscoring the Ravens 12-1 midway through the second half to take a 55-50 lead.  Both teams would trade leads in the final minutes of the contest. 

Franklin Pierce's Joe Chatman scored on a drive for just his second basket of the game to give the Ravens a 72-69 lead with just over a minute left.  After a Bryant basket by Dan Hammond pulled the Bulldogs to within 72-71, the Ravens could not get a shot off before the shot clock, giving Bryant the ball back with 9.1 seconds left.

Junior guard Chris Burns drove the length of the court but his pullup jumper rimmed out and the Ravens held on. 

Nathaniel Sudlow scored a career-best 21 points off the bench for Bryant as the Bulldogs made 11 of 25 three's in the game and shot 43.1 percent.

Franklin Pierce (12-7, 9-5 NE-10) shot just 34.8 percent and were led by Pierre Sully's 17 points (5 for 10 from three).