WEST POINT, N.Y. – Down, 67-65, with 3.7 seconds on the clock, the Bulldogs had the chance to win ripped out of their grasps, as Army buckled down on defense to force a costly traveling turnover and hit two final free throws in the waning seconds to send the Bryant University men's basketball team into a five-day break with a 69-65 loss at Christl Arena Tuesday night.

Despite taking their first halftime lead of the season, the Bulldogs (1-4) struggled to control the Black Knights (2-3) from beyond the arc throughout the second frame and would lose their advantage less than four minutes into the second half. Army converted four triples in the opening minutes to take their first lead since the 17:01 mark of the first half, 43-42, with 16:36 to play in the contest.

The home side kept the hot hand throughout the first 11 minutes of the second, taking its largest lead of the day at the 9:19 mark off its seventh trey of the frame – and 14th of the game – this one from Maxwell Lenox to put Army ahead, 62-55.

A three-point play from Raphael Jordan (Bel Air, Md.) cut the visiting deficit to four, 62-58, moments later, and rookie Ben Altit (Herzeliya, Israel)'s only points of the half followed to bring the Bulldogs within two.

Josh Herbeck re-upped Army's lead off his fifth triple of the frame and seventh of the contest with 7:03 on the clock, a shot that would mark the last Black Knight completion of the evening.

The Bulldogs didn't stop, though, scoring the next five points to knot the score at 65-65 with 4:26 to go. But a Jordan foul quickly broke the tie with four minutes remaining, and sharpshooter Julian Simmons converted from the line to give Army another two-point edge, 67-65.

From there, four turnovers, two fouls and a 0-for-4 mark from the floor would spell out Bryant's downfall, despite record nights for multiple Bulldogs.

Bryant's near comeback was its second such late-push effort in as many games, but neither team would convert a basket in the contest's final 4:26, when the Bulldogs scored the game's final basket. The Black Knights wouldn't score in live-game action for the final 7:03 of the outing, getting just four points, all off free throws, through the end of the game.

Sophomore guard Corey Maynard (Adelaide, Australia) tied the game high and set a new career mark with 21 points on the day off 7-of-19 shooting and four 3-pointers. He also tied his career high on the glass (9 rebounds) and for made field goals (7), and set a new best in minutes (38). Sophomore Alex Francis (Harlem, N.Y.) collected his second double-double of the year and the 10th of his career while setting a new career high of his own, totaling 20 points and a career-best and game-high 14 rebounds. Troy Robinson (Roslindale, Mass.) also had a big day on the boards, finishing with seven.

As a team, the Bulldogs shot 41.4 percent and won the battle of the boards, 43-30. Army, who was led by 21 points from Simmons, connected at a 37.7 percent clip but drained an impressive 15 treys in the 69-65 win.

Bryant will return to the court after Thanksgiving and travel to South Bend, Ind., to take on BIG EAST foe Notre Dame on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. for the final contest of the team's six-game season-opening road stretch.