January 16, 2008
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE DEFEATS BRYANT
MEN 73-62
NORTHEAST-10 MEN'S BASKETBALL
BOXSCORE
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| Jon Ezeokoli returned to the lineup Wednesday, scoring 12
points in 36 minutes vs. Southern New Hampshire. www.dspics.com
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SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Sam Carey scored 16 points and grabbed eight
rebounds while Chase Miller and Troy Brown each added 15 points as
visiting Southern New Hampshire picked up a 73-62 win over Bryant
University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action
Wednesday here at the Chace Athletic Center.
Bryant (9-8, 5-7 NE-10) entered the game second in the
conference in scoring defense but Southern New Hampshire took
advantage of several key offensive rebounds in shooting 54 percent
from the floor in the game and out-scoring Bryant 22 to 14 in the
paint.
While Southern NH (8-7, 5-6 NE-10) had the hot hand offensively,
Bryant struggled from the floor for much of the night. The
Bulldogs shot a respectable 41.5 percent but were 8 of 24 shooting
from beyond the arc in the game.
Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, CT) had a fine
game. The sophomore scored a game-high 18 points for Bryant
while teammate Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ)
returned to the lineup after missing one game with an injury and
finished with 12 points and five rebounds in 36 minutes.
But the story of the night was Bryant's offensive struggles.
Bryant opened the game shooting just 30 percent in the first 15
minutes until back-to-back three-point field goals by Peter
Lambert (Cumberland, RI) helped pull the Bulldogs to
within two, 35-33 at halftime.
Southern New Hampshire shot a sizzling 61 percent from the floor
in the first half including 56 percent from three-point range
(5-for-9). Gerald Carter led the way with eight first half
points but managed just four in the second half.
In the second half, things weren't much better. The
Bulldogs managed just two field goals during a nine minute stretch
in falling behind 59-46 with five minutes left.
The Bulldogs would respond with buckets from Gresham and
Ezeokoli and closed to within 59-52 on a nice runner in the lane by
Chris Birrell (Scituate, RI). The basket counted
however the sophomore guard was whistled for his fifth foul of the
game on the play, sending Birrell to the bench with 3:44 left.
That would be as close as the Bryant would get as Southern NH
came through with clutch free throw shooting in the final minute to
earn their third win in a row.
The Bulldogs will travel to Syracuse, NY Saturday for a
Northeast-10 Conference matchup with Le Moyne. Tipoff is set
for 3:30 pm.
POST GAME NOTES ...
* The loss is Bryant's third in the last four games. Two of
thos losses were at home where Bryant is now 5-4 at the Chace
Athletic Center this season.
* Sophomore Cecil Gresham has been red-hot as of late. The
sophomore's 18 points Wednesday night marked his sixth consecutive
game in double figures. Gresham had 17 points last season
against Southern NH.
* Bryant came into Wednesday's game having a player foul out in
a game only twice in the first 16 games (both by Chris
Birrell). But against Southern NH, the Bulldogs equaled that
mark with five fouls whistled against Birrell and Ryan McLean.
* Bryant was out-rebounded for the first time in four
games. The Penmen held a 30-28 advantage on the glass.
* Pete Lambert had 9 points off the bench on 3 of 7 shooting
from three-point range.
* The 24 fouls whistled against Bryant were the most this
season.
* Southern New Hampshire's 28 free throw attempts were the
second-most by an opponent (31 by Saint Rose).
* Following Saturday's trip to Le Moyne, the Bulldogs will
travel to UMass Lowell the following Saturday (Jan. 26) before
returning home to host Saint Anselm on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
