GAME NOTES
LORETTO, Pa. -- The Bryant University men's basketball team embarks on a three-game road trip to Western Pennsylvania, starting with a Thursday night rematch against Saint Francis U. The 7:00 p.m. tipoff from DeGol Arena can be seen live on ESPN3, WatchESPN, Cox Sports (RI/CT) and Fox College Sports (FCS).
THE SERIES
Bryant earned a 7-3 advantage in the all-time series with an 80-54 victory over Saint Francis U. in Smithfield earlier this month, and Thursday's game marks the 11th meeting between the Bulldogs and the Red Flash. The Bulldogs are 3-1 against the home team inside DeGol Arena and are looking for their second series sweep of the season (LIU Brooklyn).
SCOUTING THE RED FLASH
Preseason all-conference pick Earl Brown is the only Saint Francis player to average double digits on the 2014-15 season (14.9) and leads the Red Flash, shooting 52.4 percent from the floor. Brown also ranks second on the team with 6.9 rebounds per outing, while Ronnie Drinnon leads the side on the glass with 7.7 each time out (8.3 ppg). Malik Harmon averages 9.6 points per game with a .355 mark from 3-point range, but Ollie Jackson is the team's top deep threat at 1.7 trifectas each time out and a 42.3 percent clip from beyond the arc. As a team, Saint Francis U. hits 44 percent of its shots from the field and averages 64.4 points and 30.6 rebounds each time out.
TOP BULLDOGS vs. SAINT FRANCIS U.
Senior guards Dyami Starks and Joe O'Shea both average double-digit points against the Red Flash in multiple career outings to lead the Black and Gold. Starks leads the way at 15.6 points per game in five meetings while shooting 46.7 percent from the field (28-60) and 42.9 percent from long range (12-28). O'Shea has averaged 11.2 points through five matchups as well, and the captain is 19-for-41 (.463) from the floor while averaging 3.4 boards per outing. Junior point guard Shane McLaughlin (12), sophomore forward Dan Garvin (14) and rookie shooter Hunter Ware (16) also scored double-digit points in the season's first contest. Current Bulldogs are shooting a lifetime .503 (79-157) against the Red Flash.
BRYANT vs. THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
The Bulldogs are 6-2 in Northeast Conference play in 2014-15 and sport a 37-58 record (.389) against current NEC members since joining the Division I ranks. All-time against current conference institutions, the Bulldog basketball program is 51-75 (.405). Entering Thursday action, Bryant is tied with preseason favorite St. Francis Brooklyn and Robert Morris for first place in the league standings.
DAN THE MAN
Sophomore forward Dan Garvin was the bright spot in the Bulldogs' 83-66 loss to Sacred Heart Saturday afternoon, picking up his second double-double in the last four games and hitting the 20-point mark for the first time in his career. His 20 points and 13 rebounds were both game bests, and his numbers on the glass were the second-highest single-game mark of season for the Black and Gold. Garvin led the Bulldogs in scoring for the first time ever, also tying his career high with three assists while posting a pair of blocks in 36 minutes. It was the 10th time this season and 19th time in his career the bigman has led his team on the glass.
STARKS HITS MORE MILESTONES
Dyami Starks hit yet another major career milestone Saturday at home against the Pioneers, scoring his 1,500 collegiate point in just his 99th career game. It was the fourth career milestone of the week, as Starks also netted his 500th career field goal Tuesday night against Harvard (517) and needs just 10 more baskets to do so as a Bulldog. He also drained his 250th career 3-pointer against the Crimson (257; 238 at Bryant) and hit his 200th free throw as a Bulldog, as well (219 in career). Starks has 1,422 points in 79 games as a Bulldog.
STREAK SNAPPED
Bryant saw its five-game Northeast Conference winning streak snapped Saturday afternoon at the hands of Sacred Heart in Smithfield, but the 9-9 Black and Gold have still been surging as of late. The Bulldogs have now won six of nine contests in 2015 and eight of their last 12 dating back to Dec. 9.
HOLD ON TIGHT
After turning the ball over just one single time despite an 83-66 loss to the Pioneers on Saturday, the Bulldogs now rank 14th in the nation in fewest turnovers (198 times in 18 games). Bryant also jumped from 57th all the way up to 29th in the country with an 11.0 per-game average, tops in the NEC.
PIONEER PUSH
And while the Bulldogs may have scored a season low in turnovers, they allowed their opponents a season high on the scoreboard. Sacred Heart's 83 points are the most the Black and Gold have given up all season.
STARKS CLIMBS NEC'S ALL-TIME RANKINGS
Bryant senior guard Dyami Starks is also closing in on a major NEC milestone. After becoming the 50th player in NEC history to reach 200 career 3-pointers back on Dec. 3, Starks has been working his way up the league's all-time list. With 238 trifectas over the course of his career at Bryant (2+ seasons), Starks now sits alone in 21st in the conference's all-time rankings. To reach the top-20, the Minnesota native needs to hit just one more trey. Already, Starks is Bryant's Division I leader in threes, and the senior moved into fourth on the all-time list Jan. 20. Including his rookie season at Columbia, Starks now has 257 career trifectas.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs head to Moon Township, Pa., for a Saturday matchup against Robert Morris. The 4:00 p.m. contest is the second half of an NEC men's/women's doubleheader and can be seen live and free-of-charge at NECFrontRow.com.
