SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant men's basketball team returns to the Chace Athletic Center on Thursday night, welcoming UMBC for a 6:00 p.m. tip.

Thursday's game marks a rematch of last year's America East Quarterfinals. Tickets are available at BryantTickets.com.

The Particulars
Opponent: UMBC
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Date and Time: Thursday, Jan. 15 - 6:00 PM EST 
Live Stats: Sidearm
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Bryant 
Social Media: Facebook | X | Instagram | #AEMBB

THE SERIES

• Bryant owns a 5-2 lead in the Division I series, having won each of the last five games.
• That includes an 85-74 victory over UMBC in last year's America East Quarterfinals. 
• Remarkably, it snapped a string of three-straight games that had been decided by six points or less.
• In total, five of the seven meetings since Bryant joined the America East have been decided by less than 10 points.

BRYANT IN FOURTH SEASON OF AMERICA EAST PLAY

• Bryant enters its fourth season of America East play this year.
• The Bulldogs are 34-17 league play, including a 26-8 mark over the last 2+ seasons.
• Bryant went 14-2 last season, winning its first America East Regular Season title.

BRYANT FALLS TO UML AND UALBANY LAST WEEK

• Bryant suffered a tough week, dropping a home game to UMass Lowell before falling on the road at UAlbany.
• The Bulldogs fell 77-63 at home and 71-46 on the road. 
• Timofei Rudovskii led Bryant in the two games, averaging 17.5 ppg, including a career high 20 points at UAlbany.

• Aaron Davis III had appeared in 28 games off the bench leading into Bryant's matchup with Iona on Dec. 10. In those 28 games, he was averaging just 4.0 ppg and shooting 25.0 percent (18-72) from three for his career.
• Davis made his first-career start vs the Gaels and poured in 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three. He has started each game since and is averaging 13.7 ppg and shooting 51.0 percent (26-of-50) from three in those seven games.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO KNOW

• Timofei Rudovskii is coming off a career high 20 points on Saturday at UAlbany. He scored 18 in the first half before being held to just two after the break. Rudovskii now leads the team with 12.1 ppg.
• Aaron Davis III is the America East leader in 3pFG%, entering Thursday at 44 percent on the year. He ranks third in the league with 2.1 3pFG/game.
• Jakai Robinson finished with nine points on Saturday at UAlbany and didnt commit a turnover in 26 minutes.
• Bryant ranks second in the league in both scoring defense and FG% defense entering Thursday.
• Bryant leads the league in blocked shots with 4.9 per game.  

• UMBC enters Thursday at 9-6 overall and 2-0 in America East play following a 75-74 victory over UNH on Saturday.
• DJ Armstrong, who hit a pair of game-winning shots in non-conference play, hit two free throws with 0.9 seconds left to lift the Retrievers to the victory.
• UMBC is averaging 74.7 ppg offensively and allowing 71.2 ppg. They shot 46 percent from the field.
• Jah'Likai King leads the way at 14.9 ppg, while Armstrong (13.0 ppg) and Ace Valentine (10.8 ppg) also average double figures.