BULLDOGS WIN REGIONAL TITLE WITH 74-64 WIN OVER BENTLEY
Bryant Gets 25 Points From MVP John Williams To Claim Title As Region's Best
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WALTHAM, Mass. -- For the first time in school history, the Bryant men's basketball team is heading to the NCAA Regional. The Bulldogs used a strong outside performance from John Williams (25 points) and the inside presence of Mike Williams (15 points, 6 blocks) to roll past Bentley, 74-64 to win the Northeast Championship.
Bryant (23-8) never trailed in the game, racing out to a 21-15 lead on a three-pointer from sophomore Chris Burns which sparked an 11-2 run by the Bulldogs, sending the visitors to a 29-17 lead following a Jarett Love putback on a Mario Correia miss with 6:28 left in the first half.
Leading 37-30 at the half, Bryant increased its lead to 50-39 on a Correia baseline jumper.
Bentley (30-6), the top seed of the tournament,would not go away just yet as the Falcons, behind Andy Smith's 17 points and five three-pointers, pulled to within five, 56-51 with 6:56 left to go in the game.
Bryant would stay composed, as John Williams, the tournament's most valuable player, hit several key free throws down the stretch and Dan Hammond and Mike Williams controlled the defensive glass.
The win avenges Bryant's heart-breaking loss in the regional championship on a last second-shot.
The Bulldogs will take on Mount Olive, the East Regional at the national quarterfinals March 23 in Grand Forks, N.D.
