February 19, 2008

MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO STONEHILL, 63-54 TUESDAY

BOX SCORE

EASTON, MA -  Guard Peter Lambert (Cumberland, RI) scored a team-high 15 points and senior Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) added 13 points but it was not enough as host Stonehill College prevailed 63-54 at a steamy Merkert Gym Tuesday night.  The loss ends Bryant's four-game win streak but more importantly, the Bulldogs slip to fifth in the conference standings, just a half game behind Stonehill with one regular season game left. Stonehill has two games left.  The top four teams in the NE-10 will receive a first round bye in the conference tournament at the end of the month.

Bryant came into the game winners of seven of its last eight games, but were facing a team that boasted a 9-1 record at home.  Not to mention, the Bulldogs picked a bad time to struggle offensively.  Bryant was ice-cold from the floor, shooting just 23 percent from the floor in the first half and 34 percent for the game including 9 of 30 (30 percent) from beyond the arc in falling to 16-11 overall and 12-8 in the NE-10.

Bryant trailed 12-5 out of the gate, but regrouped enough to take a 13-12 lead following a three from Lambert and a deep trifecta from Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) from the right corner.

Stonehill (16-11, 12-8 NE-10) would close out the first half with a 14-4 run including a 30-foot heave by Randall Stallworth at the buzzer sending the Skyhawks running into the locker room at the break with their largest lead of the night, 30-21. 

Twice in the second half, the Skyhawks looked like they would pull away from this one, but Bryant would continue to answer back, despite the struggles from the floor.  Ezeokoli, who had just four points at the half, would knock down a 15-footer and followed with a power move inside to get Bryant back to within a bucket, 37-35.

Stonehill guard Vince Rosario (11 points) would hit a three to push the Skyhawks lead back to 51-43, but again, Bryant would not go away.  Another Lambert trey and Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, CT) basket got Bryant back within 51-48.  On Stonehill's next possession, Birrell would strip Randall Stallworth at the top of the key leading to a Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, OH) fast-break basket and the Bulldogs were again within a point.

That would be as close as Bryant would get as the Bulldogs had several opportunities to reclaim the lead but couldn't manage to hit the key shots needed down the stretch.

Birrell had three points and four assists while Greshman was the only other Bulldog to reach double figures, finishing with 10 on the night.  Defensively, the Bulldogs held Stonehill leading scorer Nick Smith (14 ppg average) scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting.

Bryant will wrap up the regular season next Tuesday traveling to Merrimack College for a 7:30 p.m. Northeast-10 Conference game in North Andover, MA.