Box Score LOWELL, Mass. – Earl Timberlake hit two free throws with 0.7 seconds left to lift the Bryant men's basketball team to a 79-78 victory over UMass Lowell on Thursday night at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 18-11 overall and 12-2 in America East play. It marks Bryant's first win at Costello since Jan. 26, 2008 when the programs were both Division II. Bryant will now travel to Maine to face the Black Bears on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
 
Thursday's matchup was an instant classic and appeared to be headed to the River Hawks. UML twice led by as many as seven points in the second half and took a 78-77 lead with 4.1 seconds left on a Quintin Mincey floater. Bryant inbounded to Timberlake and he raced down the floor, cutting across the lane to attempt his last-second winner. The shot fell short but a foul was called with 0.7 seconds left. Timberlake then stepped to the line and hit both free throws to give the Bulldogs the lead.
 
Timberlake finished his MVP-type night with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals and three blocks. Rafael Pinzon added 16 points, Kvonn Cramer posted 14 and Barry Evans chipped in 10 for the Black and Gold.
  
Game Information
Bryant 79, UMass Lowell 78
Records: Bryant 18-11, 12-2 | UMass Lowell 16-13, 5-9
Location: Costello Athletic Center (Lowell, Mass.)
Attendance: 508

Key Moments

• Timberlake was fouled on his last-second shot attempt and canned two free throws with 0.7 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 79-78 lead.

How it Happened

• It was a frantic first four minutes as the River Hawks grabbed a 6-3 lead at the under-16. Bryant started the game just 1-of-8 from the field, with Pinzon's first three accounting for the only points.
• The games pace never slowed as the River Hawks built a 15-8 behind back-to-back Martin Somerville threes.
• Mitchell answered the second with just his second three-point field goal of league play and then deflected a pass defensively on the next possession. Bryant grabbed that loose ball and Robinson finished through contact for an and-1. The free throw brought Bryant within one, 15-14.
• Bryant would regain the lead just prior to the under-8 as Withers found Evans for a transition three that rattled home and made it 22-21.
• The Bulldogs and River Hawks would then trade baskets until 5-0 spurt gave UML a 32-29 lead with 4:28 left.
• Pinzon would then bury threes on back-to-back possessions to give Bryant 35-34 lead with 3:30 left.
• Quintin Mincey would make four free throws and Brooks capped the half with a driving layup to give the River Hawks a 42-39 lead at the break.
• UML opened a five-point lead to start the second half before Withers hit from the top to make it a one-point game.
• The Bulldogs had two cracks at taking the lead but couldn't convert and the River Hawks were able to hold a 51-46 edge at the under-16.
• UML's lead would reach six before Mitchell swished a three from the left wing to make it 55-52 with 11:50 to play.
• A Max Brooks layup with 10:51 left made it 59-52 in favor of UML but Bryant would score the next six points to cut into the deficit. Cramer had four of them, including an emphatic two-hand slam to make it 59-58 with 9:32 left.
• UML's Yuri Covington, however, swished a deep three to give the River Hawks a six-point edge.
• Bryant would cut it to 64-60 with 7:09 to play.
• After a Robinson bucket, Timberlake would finish a free-throw line jumper and make the foul shot to give the Bulldogs a 65-64 lead.
• UML would answer as Martin Somerville's three from the corner went in, out and then fell home with 5:18 left to give UML a 69-65 lead.
• Timberlake would answer with a three at the other end, his first three since Feb. 6.
• UML would take a 72-70 lead into the under-4 thanks to another Somerville three.
• Bryant would fight back to take a 75-74 lead as Evans finished on a run out with 1:34 left.
• Brooks then finished inside to give UML the lead before Pinzon would swish a pull up jumper to give Bryant the lead with 23 seconds left.
• A Mincey floater with 4.1 seconds left gave UML a 78-77 lead.
• Bryant would inbound to Timberlake and he raced up the court and was fouled with 0.7 seconds left.
• Timberlake would calmly sink both shots and the UML heave was errant, giving the Bulldogs a 79-78 win.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 28-of-67 (41.8 percent) from the field, 9-of-27 (33.3 percent) from three and 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) from the line.
• UML held a 40-36 edge in rebounding and a 44-36 edge in the paint.
• The Black and Gold posted 18 assists, had eight steals and blocked six shots.
• Timberlake finished with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the line. He added nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals and three blocks.
• Pinzon added 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting. He also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
• Cramer chipped in 14 points off the bench. He was 6-of-10 from the field.
• Evans battled foul trouble but had 10 points and five boards.
• Withers finished with six points, three boards and four assists.
• Robinson added seven big bench points.

Game Notes

• Bryant completed a season sweep of UMass Lowell. The Bulldogs are now 2-5 vs the River Hawks at the DI level.
• Thursday's win was Bryant's first at Costello at the DI level and its first in Lowell since Jan. 26, 2008.
• Bryant has set a new high with 12 league victories.
• Timberlake finished in double-figures for the 24th time this season and the 77th time in his career.
• Timberlake has now blocked 103 shots at Bryant, third-most in DI program history.
• Timberlake now has 743 career rebounds at Bryant, just seven shy of tying Charles Pride for second.
• Evans posted has scored in double figures in 23 games this year and 25 times in his career.
• Pinzon finished in double figures for the 23^rd time this year and the 52^nd time in his career.
• Cramer finished in double figures for the 8^th time this year and the 21^st time in his career.
• Mitchell's two threes were his first three-point field goals since Jan. 11 vs Vermont.

Up Next
Bryant wraps up its road trip on Saturday in Orono, Maine as it takes on the Black Bears. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m.