November 25, 2007

BRYANT MEN DEFEAT FRANKLIN PIERCE 55-53
Northeast-10 Conference Basketball

SMITHFIELD, RI -  Senior guard Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) scored a game-high 26 points, 20 coming in the second half, to lead the Bryant University men's basketball team to a 55-53 Northeast-10 Conference victory over Franklin Pierce here Sunday afternoon.  The win improves the Bulldogs to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in league play heading into Wednesday game at Assumption College. 

Down 27-26 at the half, the Bulldogs fell behind 43-37 after FPC's Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass.) nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the visitors their largest lead of the night with 9:21 left to play. 

But the Bulldogs, despite a rough afternoon shooting from the floor, began to chip away.  A pair of free throws from Ezeokoli followed by a layup underneath but the senior helped pull the Bulldogs back to within 43-41.   

Later in the half, a 3-pointer from Ezeokoli helped tie the game at 46-46 and after a free throw from Franklin Pierce's Marcus Wellman (Monroe, CT), Ezeokoli hit a short pullup with 3:41 to put Bryant ahead 48-47.  It was Bryant's first lead of the game since the final minute of the first half. 

Sophomore guard Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) would follow with a three of his own after a big offensive rebound by Ryan McLean (Plymouth, Mass.).  McLean would later add a 12 foot jumper with 1:30 left to push Bryant ahead 54-49 and the Bulldogs were able to hold on down the stretch.

The basket was McLean's lone two points of the night but he came up big with 10 rebounds off the bench while adding a block and pair of assists. 

Dozier led Franklin Pierce (2-2, 0-2 NE-10) with 18 points while Wellman added a double -double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bulldogs shot 30.3 percent from the floor in the game including a 17.9 percent from three-point range (5 of 28).  Franklin Pierce finished the night 31.4 percent from the floor including 6 of 19 from beyond the arc.