January 10, 2008

BIRRELL'S 24 LEAD BRYANT TO TOP PACE, 76-75, ON THE ROAD IN OVERTIME THURSDAY NIGHT

CECIL GRESHAM

PLEASANTVILLE, NY - On the back of a game-high 24 points from sophomore Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI), including five 3-pointers, the Bryant University men's basketball team beat Pace University, 76-75, in overtime Thursday night at the Goldstein Center.

Bryant (9-7, 5-6 Northeast-10) came out to take an early 15-5 lead, despite being without leading-scorer Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ). The Bulldogs maintained a double-digit advantage through the 8:44 mark, when Pace (7-7, 6-3) began to move in on the lead.

The Setters cut the lead to 24-18 with under five minutes in the frame, and a layup from Jon Jones off an inbound pass brought the score to 26-20 with 1:20 to go before the break. The Bulldogs would allow the Setters to score once more to enter the locker room up, 26-22.

Bryant found its stride against the Setters from 3-point land early, hitting five from downtown in the opening 11 minutes. Bryant would go 6-of-14 from beyond the arc in the half. The Bulldogs outshot the Setters, 43.5 percent to 26.5 percent, but turned the ball over more than twice as much, 12-5.

Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, Conn.) opened the second frame with Bryant's first nine points, keeping the Bulldogs just barely ahead of Pace, 35-32, four minutes into the half. Setter Ryan Williams drained a big three at the 15:06 mark to draw his side to within one, 37-36, and five-and-a-half minutes later, Desmond Quincy-Jones tied the score at 42-42 with a lay-in from the post.

A bucket from Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI) would push the lead back into Bryant's corner, but Pace would take it back and drive to a 55-49 advantage with six to play on a Williams shot from downtown.

A three-point play from Barry Latham (Taunton, Mass.) with 3:21 showing on the clock cut Pace's lead to 57-55, and Birrell pushed the Bulldogs back on top with a big three seconds later.

But with under a minute to play, the Setters took the edge again, 62-60, and were sent to the charity stripe with 26 seconds remaining.

Pace returned the favor, sending Birrell to the line for two successful shots with 18 seconds left, leaving the Setters with a 63-62 edge. But Birrell would hit the stripe again to tie it up, 64-64, and push the game into overtime for a second-straight contest.

Birrell drained a three to give Bryant a 71-68 lead with 2:51 remaining in the first overtime, but it would be his last points before fouling out with 49 seconds left. The teams traded fouls, but when Ray Witkos (Easthampton, Mass.) stole a ball on the Pace post, the Bulldogs' avoided their third-straight loss, 76-75, despite going 0-for-6 on their last six free throws.

Birrell's 24 points led the game, while Cecil Gresham's 10 rebounds led the Bulldogs and earned him a double-double (18 points). Bryant shot 45.2 percent on the night.

Bryant will return home to the Chace Athletic Center on Wed., Jan. 16 to host Southern New Hampshire at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs are 1-0 against the Penmen this season, taking a 62-54 win in Manchester, N.H., Dec. 8.