SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant men's basketball team wraps up its week with a trip to Vestal, N.Y., on Saturday afternoon to take on Binghamton. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m.

Bryant is coming off a 68-63 loss to UAlbany on Thursday night at home but remains in first place in the America East standings at 8-1. The Bearcats have been one of the hotter teams in the league, entering Saturday with three-straight wins, including a 66-54 victory over UMass Lowell on Thursday.

The Particulars
Opponent: Binghamton
Location: Dr. Bai Lee Court (Vestal, N.Y.)
Date and Time: Saturday, Feb. 8 - 2:00 PM 
Live Stats: Sidearm
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Bryant | Binghamton
Social Media: Facebook | X | Instagram | #AEMBB

THE SERIES

• Bryant leads the DI series 5-2 and has won each of the last three games vs Binghamton. That includes an 83-69 victory over the Bearcats just two weeks ago in Smithfield.
• Rafael Pinzon led five double-digit scorers with 30 points, while Earl Timberlake added a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. 
• Bryant trailed for much of the first half before Barry Evans hit a three with under five seconds to go in the first half to give the Black and Gold the lead for good. 
• The Black and Gold's victory last season in Vestal was their first road win vs Binghamton in the DI series. 

BRYANT DROPS FIRST AMERICA EAST CONTEST

• Bryant lost its first America East game of the year on Thursday, falling 68-63 to UAlbany. The Bulldogs' 63 points were 20 below their season average. Bryant also shot just 37 percent and turned the ball over 15 times (most in an America East game this year for Bryant).
• The Black and Gold trailed by 13 at halftime but erased the deficit with a 19-5 run in the second half. Connor Withers drilled a fadeaway three to make it 53-52 but UAlbany answered with a decisive 8-0 run.

BRYANT SETS BLOCKS RECORD

• Bryant set a DI program record with 15 blocks on Thursday night vs UAlbany. The mark is one shy of tying the single-game program record of 16 set in 1973.
• The 15 blocks are also the most by a team in the NCAA this season and push Bryant's season average to 6.0 per game. The Black and Gold now rank 3rd nationally.
• In conference play, the Bulldogs are averaging 7.6 blocks per game. 

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

• Earl Timberlake is on the verge of achieving some remarkable milestones in his Bulldog career. He enters Saturday with 1,160 points, 696 rebounds, 294 assists and 94 blocks in his Bulldog career.
• He is just 13 points away from surpassing Frankie Dobbs for fifth in DI program history and just four rebounds shy of becoming only the fourth player (Alex Francis, Dan Garvin, Charles Pride) to reach 700 career rebounds.
• Timberlake is also just six assists shy of becoming the fifth to reach 300 and six blocks shy of becoming the third to reach 100. 
• If he achieves these milestones, he would be the only player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 blocks.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Bryant's 37 percent from the field and 15 turnovers on Thursday were its worst in nine America East games this season. Despite that, the Black and Gold still lead the league in scoring and have turned the ball over the second fewest (9.7/game). 
2. Timberlake is second in the America East with nine double-doubles and is one of only two players in the league averaging a double-double in America East play. The other is Binghamton's Gavin Walsh. Walsh had 23 rebounds on Thursday vs UMass Lowell and posted 11 points and 15 rebounds in the first meeting vs Bryant.
3. Connor Withers posted 17 points on Thursday night vs UAlbany and has now scored in double figures in all nine America East games. He is averaging 16.3 ppg in league play and is first in the America East with 3.3 3pFG/game. Withers has made at least four threes in five of the nine league games.
4. Barry Evans returned to the lineup on Thursday and posted 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. He ranks third in the league with 1.9 steals per game in AE play.
5. Jakai Robinson continues to produce in a quasi-sixth man role for the Black and Gold. He posted 10 points, seven rebounds and turned the ball over just once in 27 minutes on Thursday night. Robinson is averaging 6.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg and has turned the ball over just 19 times in nearly 500 minutes of action (0.93/game).