January 25, 2007
SAINT ANSELM UPSETS #25 BRYANT MEN 71-70
Bryant's Seven Game Win Streak Comes To An End;
Bulldogs Host Bentley Saturday
MANCHESTER, NH - Ross Pentland sank two free throws with 5
seconds left as Saint Anselm knocked off No. 25 Bryant University,
71-70 Wednesday night at Stoughtenburgh Gym. The loss snaps
Bryant's seven-game win streak as the Bulldogs return home Saturday
to host third-ranked and undefeated Bentley College for a 3:30 p.m.
game at the Chace Athletic Center. A sellout crowd is
expected for the game as Bentley comes into the game undefeated on
the season.
Against Saint Anselm Wednesday, the Bryant fell victim to streak
shooting by the Hawks as the hosts drained 12 three-point field
goals - 10 coming in the second half to pull out the win.
Despite turning the ball over 19 times in the game, Saint Anselm
made 12 of 26 from beyond the arc with Chris Vetrano connecting on
five and Junior Mitchell adding four.
Bryant trailed 66-61 with four minutes left, but the Bulldogs
came back strong, scoring seven straight points on a baseline
jumper and three-pointer by Dan Hammond (Brunswick, Maine) and an
offensive putback by Chris Burns to give the Bulldogs a 68-66 lead
with a minute to go.
A three by Vetrano with 31.4 seconds left put St. Anselm ahead
by one, 69-68, giving Bryant another shot at the lead. After
working the ball around, Burns found Nick Pontes (New Bedford,
Mass) for a jumper to put the Bulldogs ahead 70-69, but after the
basket, Pentland was fouled driving to the basket and would drain
both free throws for the win.
Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) led all scorers with 22 points
while Burns finished with 15 and Hammond added 10. Bryant
shot 43 percent from the floor but got to the foul line just four
times in the game (3-for-4), including just two attempts in the
second half.
* Postgame Notes ...
* Bryant stayed ranked No. 2 in the second NCAA Northeast
Regional ranking released Wednesday afternoon. Bentley
remains No. 1 while Saint Anselm moved up to No. 6.
* The Bulldogs entered the week ranked No. 25 nationally,
Bryant's first national ranking since the end of the 2004-05
season.
