BURLINGTON, VT – Double-figure scoring efforts from Rafael Pinzon and Barry Evans would not be enough as the Bryant men's basketball team fell to the Vermont Catamounts on Thursday evening in Burlington, Vermont.
With the loss, Bryant falls to 17-11 overall and 11-2 in America East play. The Black and Gold continue their three-game road stretch next Thursday (Feb. 27) at UMass Lowell.
On Thursday, Vermont held Bryant without a field goal for the final 1:49. TJ Hurley would lead the Catamount with 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting. He would ultimately give the Catamounts the lead for good after knocking down a driving layup with just over a minute remaining
Pinzon finished with 17 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field and a 4-of-6 mark from the charity stripe. Evans posted 14 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Timberlake tallied eight points and eight boards.
Game Information
Vermont 59, Bryant 55
Records: Bryant 17-11, 11-2 | Vermont 16-11, 9-3
Location: Patrick Gymnasium (Burlington, VT)
Attendance: 2,386
Key Moments
- On the rebound from the second free throw, Barnett would steal the ball from Kvonn Cramer and dished it to Ayo-Faleye who finished on the other end with a dunk with 10 seconds to play.
How it Happened
- Bryant and Vermont traded baskets off the opening tip.
- Barry Evans drilled a pair of early three pointers bookending an early 9-0 run for the Black and Gold
- Vermont would quickly counter and rode a 13-0 run into the under 12 media. Ileri Ayo-Faleye would knock down a pair of threes in that span.
- With the game tied at 20, Vermont's Shamir Bogues would drive the rack for a two handed flush at 8:41 in the first.
- Vermont native Kam Farris helped the Bulldogs respond on the following possession, driving through the lane for a layup at 8:15.
- Farris would then give Bryant the lead; knocking down a three pointer at 7:01.
- TJ Hurley made a three of his own at 5:10, swinging the lead back to the Catamounts.
- Earl Timberlake hit a pull up contested jumper near the baseline with 3:51. Evening the score once again at 27 all.
- Barry Evans and Kvonn Cramer helped give Bryant the lead at the break. Evans would get a floater to fall at 1:48 and Cramer would throw down a one handed slam giving the Bulldogs a 33-30 lead at halftime.
- Connor Withers started the second half scoring for the Bulldogs driving for a layup at 19:24.
- Hurley responded for the Catamounts by throwing down a dunk on the following possession at 18:36.
- Vermont's Noah Barnett cut the Bulldogs lead to two after catching a pass from Ayo-Faleye and finishing over Connor Withers at 16:04.
- Pinzon hit a pull up jumper from the elbow at 14:40 expanding Bryant's lead to three.
- Kvonn Cramer would get a feed from Earl Timberlake and throw down a thunderous and-one dunk at 13:28. He then made his free throw giving the Bulldogs a 41-37.
- UVM's Nick Fiorillo cut Bryant's lead to one after netting a three pointer at 12:18.
- TJ Hurley hit a corner three at 11:20 to put the Catamounts in front 43-41.
- Back-to-back layups from Pinzon and a basket from Keyshawn Mitchell helped Bryant regain the lead with 8:55 remaining and forced a Vermont timeout.
- Noah Barnett would draw a foul and make a free throw to swing the lead back in favor of the Catamounts. They would lead with 8:26 to play in the second.
- Ileri Ayo-Faleye got a floater to fall from the top of the key and gave the Catamounts a three point advantage at 4:59.
- Evans quickly responded by hitting a turnaround hook-shot at 4:36 to narrow the deficit to one.
- Hurley got a floating jump shot to fall at 3:09, giving UVM a two possession lead (55-51).
- Pinzon would go coast-to-coast and finish with a right-handed layup at the rim, cutting the lead to two at 1:42.
- Barry Evans jarred a pass loose on the defensive end and would get fouled at the rim. He would knock down both his free throws to tie the score at 55 with 1:23 remaining.
- TJ Hurley finished between a pair of Bulldogs with 1:05 to go, giving the Catamounts a 57-55 lead.
- Keyshawn Mitchell drew a foul under the basket with 19.4 remaining. He would miss both free throws.
- On the rebound from the second free throw, Barnett would steal the ball from Kvonn Cramer and dished it to Ayo-Faleye who finished on the other end with a dunk with 10 seconds to play.
Stats
- Bryant finished the game 20-of-56 (35.7 percent) from the field, 4-of-21 (19.0 percent) from three and 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) from the line.
- The Bulldogs held a 39-37 edge on the glass.
- Bryant finished with 12 offensive rebounds.
- The Bulldogs posted six assists on the evening.
- Pinzon led the Bulldogs with 17 points on 6-of-20 shooting. He was 4-of-6 from the line.
- Evans finished with 14 points (5-of-8 shooting), seven rebounds, and three blocks.
- Timberlake recorded eight points, eight boards, three assists, one steal and one block.
- Withers registered four points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
- Cramer posted five points and four boards against the Catamounts.
- Farris finished with five points on 2-of-3 shooting in his return to his home state of Vermont.
- Mitchell tallied four boards and three blocks.
Game Notes
- Bryant splits the season series with Vermont with each team defending home court. They are now 1-5 against the Catamounts since joining the America East.
- The Bulldogs are now 8-7 on the road this season. Bryant was previously 5-0 on the road against conference opponents this season.
- Bryant's first place lead in the conference standings has been cut to one game.
- Evans scored in double figures in 22 games this year and 24 times in his career.
- Pinzon finished in double figures for the 22nd time this year and the 51st time in his career.
Up Next
Bryant will be back on the road at UMass Lowell next Thursday (Feb. 27) to face the Riverhawks. Tip is set for 6:00 p.m.
