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BRYANT MEN DEFEAT MERRIMACK 74-69 IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
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SMITHFIELD, RI - Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) scored a game-high 21 points and Chris Burns (Merrimack, NH) added 18 points as the Bryant men's basketball team picked up a 74-69 win over visiting Merrimack College Tuesday evening at the Chace Athletic Center.  The Bulldogs will receive a first round bye as the No. 4 seed in the 2007 NE-10 Conference tournament and will play the winner of the AIC / Merrimack game on Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Smithfield, RI.  

Bryant's senior class of Chris Burns, Nate Sudlow, and Dan Hammond were honored prior to the start of Tuesday's 74-69 win over Merrimack College.

Tied 28-28 with Merrimack at the half last night, the Bulldogs used a 14-1 spurt early in the second half to jump out in front 53-42.  Back-to-back three's by Ezeokoli and Burns (from N.B.A. range), helped key the Bryant run.  Moments later, Bryant stretched its lead to 60-48 a dunk by Nick Pontes (New Bedford, Mass.) and layup by Orlando Baeza (Palmdale, Calif.). 

Baeza had a strong game for the Bulldogs off the bench in the second half and was a key in kick-starting the team's late run.  The sophomore guard finished the night with a solid eight points in 13 minutes of play.  

Merrimack (8-19, 7-15 NE-10) would not go away as guard Darren Duncan sliced through the Bryant defense for a team-high 20 points and Jared Brownlee added 16 points as the Warriors would cut the lead down to 68-67 with 1:47 remaining.

But two more free throws from Ezeokoli and a pair of free throws from senior Nate Sudlow (Brooklyn, NY) and the Bulldogs would hold on. 

Bryant (18-9, 14-8 NE-10) shot 40.4 percent from the floor in the game and out-rebounded Merrimack 40 to 29.  Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, Ohio) added eight points for Bryant which won consecutive games for the first time this month. 

* POST GAME NOTES *

* Bryant honored seniors Chris Burns, Nate Sudlow, and Dan Hammond (Brunswick, Maine) prior to the start of tonight's game.  The trio have been a part of 104 career victories including three NCAA tournament appearances, one NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance and one NCAA National Championship appearance. 

* Bryant made a season-high 23 free throws and attempted a season-high 33 free throws.  Both teams shot a combined 59 free throws with 29 totla fouls whistled in the game.

* The Bulldogs shot a season-low 20 percent from three-point range (5 of 25).  The previous low was 6 for 29 against AIC on Feb. 17 (6 for 29).

* Bryant had 18 offensive rebounds with Ryan McLean (Plymouth, Mass.) grabbed five of his six rebounds in the game on the offensive end.

* There were four lead changes and six ties in the game.

* The victory is No. 111 for coach Max Good who is now third all-time in school history for career wins.  Tom Foliard is first with 174 followed by Leon Drury at 126.

* Dan Hammond has now started in 107 of his 122 career games played.