December 8, 2008

Box Score

ARMY HOLDS ON TO BEAT BULLDOGS, 59-48, AT THE CHACE CENTER MONDAY NIGHT

SMITHFIELD, RI- Army had three players score in double-figures as the Bryant men's basketball team fell, 59-48, Monday night at the Chace Center. John Moonshower and Jesse Steele each had 11 points while Doug Williams added 10.  

Eight players recorded points for the Black Knights in the first half as they shot 52 percent from the field and played hard-nosed defense to force 13 Bryant turnovers and take a 32-20 lead into the halftime break.

The Bulldogs fell into a hole early in the first half as Army went on a 12-0 run to take a 16-5 lead thanks to knocking down three shots from behind the arc, two from freshman guard Steele. Steele finished the half with a team-high 9 points on the strength of three treys.

Back-to-back threes from Barry Latham (Taunton, Mass. / Marianapolis) and Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, Conn. / MCI) ended the Black Knights run and cut the lead back to five at 16-11. Gresham hit three three-pointers in the first half to lead the way with nine points. He finished with a game-high 14 points to go along with seven rebounds.

Army went on another run, this time scoring seven straight points to extend the lead to double-digits at 25-13 with seven minutes left in the half.

Another Gresham three and a lay-up by Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, Ohio /  Dater) closed the gap to seven, but the Black Knights finished the half with a three by John Moonshower and two free throws from Doug Williams to give them a 12 point halftime lead.

Five points to start the second half by Gresham put Bryant back in the game, as they trailed by just nine points with 18 minutes to go. Bryant found a much better rhythm in the second half on the offensive end, putting up 28 points in the half and outscoring Army in the frame.

From that point the Black Knights would put on a 9-0 run, with Doug Williams scoring four over the next four minutes to give Army at 43-25 lead.

After the Black Knights would push the lead as high as 21 with under four minutes to play, senior guard Pete Lambert (Cumberland, R.I. / Cumberland) would knock down back-to-back threes as part of an 8-0 run to get the Bulldogs within 13 with less than two minutes to go. Lambert ended with a season-best 11 points and three treys in 22 minutes.

Two late free-throws by Adam Parzych (Lindenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst) would cut the lead to 11, but that is where it would end with a 59-48 final in favor of Army.

The Bulldogs outrebounded Army in the game 26-24, and showed a much better physical presence inside, grabbing a season-high 11 offensive rebounds, led by 7 from Gresham. Nick Pontes (New Bedford, Mass. / New Bedford) scored a season-high eight points off the bench and gave Bryant solid inside scoring in the second half.

Bryant hits the road again on Wednesday to play the Eagles of Boston College at Conte Forum (7 pm).