December 28, 2007

EZEOKOLI NETS 20 TO LEAD BRYANT MEN TO 65-58 WIN OVER POST
Bryant Holiday Basketball Tournament
Smithfield, R.I.

GAME 1 - Bryant 65 - Post University 58

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Senior Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) scored a game-high 20 points while freshman Barry Latham (Taunton, Mass.) added 13 points and seven rebounds as the Bryant men's basketball held on for a 65-58 win over Post University in first day action at the Bryant Holiday Tournament here at the Chace Athletic Center. 

Bryant (6-5) never trailed in the game but needed to withstand a late second half charge by the visiting Eagles to earn the win. Leading 40-27 following a Latham basket and foul with 15 minutes left, the Bulldogs struggled from the field and the Eagles took advantage.

A Garvin McAlister three-pointer followed by an Isa Carnegie drive cut the Bryant lead down to one, 48-47.  Ezeokoli would answer with a three coming out a timeout, but following a Jesse Iyalekhue block on an Ezeokoli drive minutes later, AJ Reitter would tie the game with a nice drive down the middle to make it 56-56 with 1:51 left.  

The Bulldogs wouldn't panic as junior Ryan McLean (Plymouth, Mass.) calmly drained back to back baseline jumpers in the final minute and the Bulldogs would pull away. For the Bulldogs, the victory marks the first time Bryant has won back-to-back games this season. 

Things were going Bryant's way in the first half as the Bulldogs opened the game by racing out to a 20-8 lead nine minutes in.  A nice turnaround jumper by Jerrann Wright (9 points, 7 rebounds) plus three free throws from Ezeokoli had Bryant off and running. 

Post, playing without leading scorer Arthur Robertson (16.4 ppg), whittled the lead down to six, 23-17 and pulled to within four a minute later on a dunk from Iyalekhue forcing Bryant to burn a timeout.  A three pointer by Ezeokoli and fast-break lay-up by Latham helped give Bryant a 31-22 advantage heading into the locker room at the half.

Reitter led the way for Post with 18 points while McAlister finished with 15. Bryant will face Philadelphia in the final game of the tournament Saturday at 7 pm.

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GAME 2 - Assumption 60, Philadelphia 59

SMITHFIELD, RI - Greg Twomey made one of two free throws with 53 seconds left but the one basket was the difference as Assumption rallied from a 15 point deficit to earn a 60-59 win over Philadelphia in the second game of opening day action at the Bryant Holiday Tournament.  Twomey had 15 points for the Greyhounds while Mike Foti added 11 as the Assumption improves to 9-3.  Philadelphia (5-8) was led by Malcolm Ingram and Jason Hickenbottom's 19 points.  Assumption will face Post Saturday at 5 pm with Philadelphia taking on host Bryant at 7 pm.