March 10, 2007
NCAA DIVISION II NORTHEAST REGIONAL
BRYANT MEN ADVANCE TO REGIONAL SEMIS
Bulldogs Defeat Adelphi 77-55 Saturday in NCAA
First Round
BOX SCORE
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| Sophomore Orlando Baeza scored a career-high 25 points to lead
Bryant past Adelphi 77-55 Saturday in the NCAA Regional
Quarterfinal. www.dspics.com
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WALTHAM, Mass. - Sophomore guard Orlando Baeza
(Palmdale, Calif.) scored a career-high 25 points and
Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) scored 17 of his
20 points in the second half to lead the Bryant men's basketball
team to a 77-55 win over Adelphi in quarterfinal round action of
the 2007 NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Championship at the
Dana Center.
Things didn't look good early for the third-seeded Bulldogs who
are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA
tournament. Bryant struggled out of the gate offensively
while Adelphi came out blazing. Furthering Bryant's early troubles
was early foul trouble as forwards Jerrann Wright
(Cincinnati, OH) and Nick Pontes (New Bedford,
Mass.) each picked up two quick fouls in the first four
minutes and coach Max Good had to go to his bench early.
Bryant (20-10) fell behind by as much as 13 as Adelphi used a
deadly perimeter attack from the outside to jump out in front 22-9
after a Samuel Jenkins three-pointer with 11:46 left. Adelphi
(18-13), the No. 6 seed, would make eight of its first 12 shots
from the floor - including four from long range.
Bryant would finally shrug off perhaps a little rust from a
nine-day layoff, as senior Chris Burns (Merrimack,
NH) and Ezeokoli helped kick start an 11-4 Bulldog run
with consecutive three-point field goals, cutting the Adelphi lead
in half, 26-20.
A high bank shot off the glass by Baeza made it a one-point
game, 34-33 with two minutes to play before
halftime.
In the second half, Bryant would pull even with the Panthers
thanks to a three from Burns at the top of the key. After a pair of
free throws by Adelphi center Mike Mosby (15 points, 11 rebounds),
Burns would put Bryant ahead for the first time since the early
minute of the game with a three pointer to make it 41-40 Bryant
with 16:34 left.
Bryant would not let up, as the Bulldogs dominated play
throughout the second half, using a 23-8 run to take a commanding
56-44 lead. Just as Adelphi was red-hot from the floor in the
first half, the Panthers missed their first eight shots of the
second half and made just three baskets from the floor in the
second half, shooting a dismal 10 percent from field and 27 percent
for the game.
Looking to take advantage of the cold shooting by the Panthers,
the Bulldogs seized the opportunity. Two free throws by
Dan Hammond (Brunswick, Maine) followed by a Baeza
12-foot jumper and fast break layup by Burns after and Adelphi
turnover, made it 71-53 and Bryant was well on its way into the
regional semifinals for the third time in the last four
years.
Bryant shot 51 percent from the floor in the game with Burns
finishing with 20 points and three assists. After not
attempting a single free throw in the first half, Bryant made
19-of-22 free throws in the second half. Baeza, Burns, and
Ezeokoli were a combined 16-for-16 from the line.
The Bulldogs will face Saint Rose, an 87-71 winner over Pace, in
the regional semifinals Sunday at 5 pm.
POST GAME NOTES ...
* Bryant improved its record in the NCAA tournament to 8-7 in
six NCAA appearances. The Bulldogs are now 8-3 in the
postseason under coach Good.
* Bryant advances to the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the third
time in the last four years. In 2004, Bryant defeated NYIT
64-60 in a game played in Lowell, Mass., and in 2005 defeated
Bloomfield, 76-59 in Waltham, Mass.
* Bryant defeated Pace Saint Rose (72-71) during the regular
season this year.
* Chris Burns, a first team all-conference selection, made four
3-pointers Saturday vs. Adelphi and now has 109 this season.
John Williams holds the school single-season record for three's
with 119 in 2004-05 and 115 in 2005-06.
*Adelphi came into the game ranked 26th in scoring
defense, allowing 64 points per game and 13th in field
goal percentage defense (40.2 percent). Bryant scored 77 points
against the Panthers on 51 percent shooting.
*Saturday's win by Bryant was the 20th of the season,
the fourth-straight 20-win season for Bryant under coach
Good.
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