November 28, 2007
ASSUMPTION RALLIES FOR 69-66 WIN WEDNESDAY
Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball
WORCESTER, MASS. - Courtland Bluford keyed a late second half
run and finished with 12 second half points as Assumption College
rallied from behind to knock off visiting Bryant University 69-66
in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action Wednesday
evening.
Bryant (2-3, 1-2 NE-10) was in control for much of the game,
showing better poise offensively after a sluggish afternoon from
the floor in last Sunday's win over Franklin Pierce at home.
After making five 3-point field goals against the Ravens Sunday,
the Bulldogs made five in the first half to take a 37-30 lead into
the locker room at the break.
A Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, CT) three-pointer midway through
the second half gave Bryant its largest lead of the night, 50-40
with 13:40 left to play. But that's when the Greyhounds
awoke offensively.
Bluford's nine points keyed a 14-1 Assumption run over a five
minute span that saw the hosts take their first lead of the game on
a basket inside by the Assumption sophomore guard.
Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) answered would hit a three to tie
the game 54-54 but the Greyhounds made key baskets down the stretch
to pull out the win. A Corey Diethorn basket in the paint
with 25 seconds left made it 69-66 and the Bulldogs were never able
to get off a final shot. Birrell had 15 first half points and
finished with 19 to lead all scorers. The Bulldogs shot 40.4
percent in the game, just 29 percent in the second half and turned
the ball over 21 times.
Assumption (5-1, 3-0 NE-10) shot 52.7 percent from the floor for
the game including a sizzling 67 percent from the floor in the
second half.
The Bulldogs host UMass Lowell Saturday at 3:30 pm.
At Laska Gym, Worcester, MA
ASSUMPTION 69, BRYANT 66
BRYANT (2-3, 1-2 NE-10)
Chris Birrell 6-11 3-4 19; Cecil Gresham 5-12 0-0 11; Barry Latham
3-5 4-4 10; Jerrann Wright 4-8 0-0 8; Peter Lambert 2-5 2-3 7; Jon
Ezeokoli 1-10 4-4 7; Ryan McLean 2-4 0-0 4; Andrew Lyell 0-1 0-0 0;
Ray Witkos 0-0 0-0 0; Adam Parzych 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-57 13-15
66.
ASSUMPTION (5-1, 3-0 NE-10)
Greg Twomey 7-13 3-3 18; Courtland Bluford 5-9 1-2 12; Corey
Diethorn 5-8 0-2 10; Mitch Bajema 2-6 2-2 8; Mike Baldarelli 4-7
0-1 8; Mike Foti 2-5 0-0 5; Pat Shea 2-4 0-0 4; Renan Malafaia 2-2
0-0 4; Dominique Price 0-1 0-0 0; Alex Popp 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-55
6-10 69.
Halftime - Bryant 37-30
3-point goals--Bryant 7-20 (Chris Birrell 4-8; Cecil Gresham
1-3; Jon Ezeokoli 1-4; Peter Lambert 1-4; Adam Parzych 0-1),
Assumption 5-16 (Mitch Bajema 2-4; Greg Twomey 1-3; Mike Foti 1-3;
Courtland Bluford 1-2; Pat Shea 0-2; Mike Baldarelli 0-2). Fouled
out--Bryant-None, Assumption-None. Rebounds--Bryant 33 (Jon
Ezeokoli 6), Assumption 30 (Greg Twomey 6; Corey Diethorn 6).
Assists--Bryant 5 (Chris Birrell 3), Assumption 14 (Courtland
Bluford 6). Total fouls--Bryant 15, Assumption 16. Technical
fouls--Bryant-None, Assumption-None. A-546
