November 20, 2007

BRYANT MEN FALL TO SAINT ANSELM 80-75 TUESDAY
Bulldogs Host Franklin Pierce Sunday at 3:30 pm

Peter Lambert scored a career-high 18 points in Bryant's loss to Saint Anselm Tuesday night.  www.dspics.com

MANCHESTER, NH -  Junior guard Peter Lambert (Cumberland, RI) scored a career-high 18 points and sophomore Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) added 17 points but it was not enough as the Bryant men's basketball team dropped its Northeast-10 Conference opener, 80-75 to Saint Anselm here Tuesday night. 

Bryant (1-2, 0-1 Northeast-10) broke open a close first half game with a 16-6 run early in the second half to take a 56-46 lead with 12:42 remaining.  Three Lambert three-pointers and a power move inside by freshman Barry Latham (Taunton, Mass.) helped key the run.  Lambert finished the night going 6 of 11 from the field, all from three-point range. 

A steal at midcourt and breakaway dunk by Latham kept the Bulldogs in front, but costly turnovers and missed opportunities to put the game away allowed the Hawks to rally back.  A three-pointer by John Tello and a free throw from Giovanni Carenza (11 points) helped pull the Hawks even at 63-63 with 4:01 left.

Saint Anselm's (2-0, 2-0 NE-10) Greg Vetrano would can a jumper and brother Chris Vetrano would drain a long fade away three to put the Hawks ahead for good, 68-65. 

Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) had 16 points as Bryant finished the game making 14 three's and holding a 37-32 rebounding edge.  But 22 turnovers proved too costly on this night.

The first half saw both teams heat up early from the outside.  Saint Anselm's Chris Vetrano nailed a pair of deep three-pointers and his brother Greg Vetrano came off the bench to hit a pair himself as the Hawks led 29-19 early. 

But two baseline three's from Lambert off the bench and a Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) three from the top of the key helped spark a 9-0 run to pull the Bulldogs to within 32-31. 

The Hawks would answer with two quick baskets, but Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, OH) hit two pretty jumpers in the lane and both teams went into the locker room tied 38-38.  Both teams drained eight 3-pointers in the first half with Lambert hitting three for Bryant.

The Bulldogs return home after Thanksgiving to host Franklin Pierce this Sunday in the home opener at Chace Athletic Center (3:30 pm).