Dobbs scores 1000th-career point, Bulldogs net 103 in win over Quinnipiac

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind five double-digit point scorers and a .607 shooting clip, the Bryant University men's basketball team came out on top in a record-setting night as senior point guard Frankie Dobbs (Berea, Ohio) scored his 1,000th-career point to pace the Bulldogs to a 103-95 victory over Quinnipiac at the Chace Athletic Center Thursday night.

Dobbs needed just five of his game-high 24 points to become the program's 34th member of the elite 1,000-point club, as the Bulldogs (10-4, 3-0 Northeast Conference) set new Division I records for points in a game (103), wins in a season (10), consecutive victories (5) and single-game field goal percentage (.607). Bryant also set a new all-time program record from 3-point land in the win, converting at a 63.2 percent clip — the highest single-game mark in program history.

The Bulldogs led most of the way in their first game of 2013 on their home court, allowing the Bobcats (5-9, 1-2) their final lead of the night at the 10:30 mark of the opening frame, 18-17. Back-to-back treys from Dobbs would push the hosts back on top, 23-20, just a minute later, the second of which sparked a 16-4 run that saw the Black and Gold open up a 36-24 advantage with 5:21 left to play in the first.

The home lead would linger around 10 until the final two minutes, when Quinnipiac ended the frame on an 8-2 stretch that would send the Bulldogs into the locker room with just a 42-39 advantage.

The visitors would cut Bryant's lead to one four times in the opening minutes of the second stanza, but despite narrowing the deficit to 59-58 with 14:40 remaining, the Bobcats couldn't overcome the home side, who used a 19-6 run over a 6:37 span to take over a double-figure lead and never look back.

Bryant extended its advantage to 18 points, 89-71, with under five minutes to play, and both sides removed their starters in favor of reserves with 1:39 to play and a 98-81 margin in the Bulldogs' favor.

A pair of Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, N.J.) free throws with 1:35 to go pushed Bryant to 100 points for the first time in its young Division I history — the game also marked the Bulldogs' first trip into the 90s in the DI era — and while the Bobcat bench fought back to make things interesting in the waning seconds, Quinnipiac wouldn't get closer than seven (101-94 with 23 seconds left).

In their first Division I victory over the Bobcats at home, the Bulldogs smashed their previous DI record for points in a game, set with an 85-80 win over Central Connecticut back on Feb. 12, 2011, and hit a season-high 34 baskets in the outing, including 19 in a second half that saw the Black and Gold set a season mark for points in a frame (61).

Sophomore guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, Minn.) finished the game with 20 points (7-10, 3-4 from long range) — his seventh 20+ point performance of the year — while junior forward Alex Francis (Harlem, N.Y.) added a game-high seven rebounds to compliment 16 points off 7-of-9 shooting from the field.

Junior guard Corey Maynard (Adelaide, Australia) chipped in 14 more with a season-best eight assists, and senior forward Vlad Kondratyev (Nikolayev, Ukraine) posted a season-high 13 points to round out Bryant's double-digit scorers. Sophomore Joe O'Shea (Burlington, Vt.) added nine while Dobbs saw a game-best five trifectas find net in the victory.

Quinnipiac also shot well from the floor, hitting at a 57.7 percent clip, but struggled from long range (3-12) and from the line (10-17). The Bobcats dominated on the boards and in the paint, outrebounding the Bulldogs, 36-25 — including a 17-7 margin on the offensive glass — while scoring 60 of their 95 points in the paint. Ike Azotam led the visitors with 21 points on the evening.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday afternoon on the road, when they travel to New Britain, Conn., for a 3:30 p.m. tilt against Central Connecticut.