December 12, 2007

BRYANT MEN FALL TO STONEHILL 59-56 WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Box score

SMITHFIELD, RI -Randall Stallworth hit a 10-foot jumper - his only basket of the game - with a minute to go and AJ Rudowitz scored on a follow-up after a miss by Stallworth with 21 seconds left as visiting Stonehill College pulled away for a 59-56 win over host Bryant University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action Wednesday at the Chace Athletic Center. 

Bryant (4-5, 3-4 NE-10) fell despite getting a game-high 19 points and season-best 11 rebounds from senior guard Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ).  The Bulldogs led 27-21 at the half but a behind the shooting of guard Matt Hall, Stonehill would climb back to pull within a point, 41-40 on a Hall three with 10:55 left.

A pair of Mike Kernan free throws gave the visiting Skyhawks their first lead of the game, 42-41 since the early minutes of the contest while Vince Rosario followed with a three pointer to make it 45-41 forcing the Bulldogs to call timeout.

A Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) three evened the score a few minutes later setting up for a close finish down the stretch, but missed free throws in the waning minutes would prove costly for the Bulldogs.  Ezeokoli made one of two free throw attempts to give the Bulldogs a 56-55 lead with 1:57 left but it wouldn't be enough to pull out the win.

Birrell finished with 16 points while freshman Barry Latham (Taunton, Mass.) had a strong game with 11 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots.  Bryant made 14 of 24 free throw attempts in the game and were 6 of 18 from 3-point range.

Hall led all scorers for Stonehill College as the junior from Springfield, MA made 7 of 10 from the floor including a sizzling 5 of 7 from three-point range.  Rudowitz added 14 points as the Skyhawks evened their record to 6-6 on the season (4-3 NE-10).  

Bryant will travel to Adelphi next Friday (Dec. 21) for a non-conference game at 7:00 pm.