Box Score SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Earl Timberlake, Keyshawn Mitchell and Barry Evans all scored 20 points to pace the top-seeded Bryant men's basketball team past No. 4 seed UAlbany, 91-78, in the semifinals of the 2025 Jersey Mike's America East Men's Basketball Playoffs on Tuesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.
 
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 22-11 overall and advance to the America East Championship on Saturday morning at the Chace Athletic Center. Bryant will host No. 3 seed Maine, a 57-42 victor over No. 2 Vermont on Tuesday night. Tip is set for 11:00 a.m. and the game will air on ESPN2. It will mark Bryant's first appearance in the America East title game and its third championship game appearance in the last five years.
 
Tickets for Saturday's championship will go on sale Thursday (March 13) at 10:00 a.m. at BryantBulldogs.com/tickets.
 
On a night that Bryant played without leading scorer Rafael Pinzon, Mitchell, Timberlake and Evans combined for 62 points to lead five double-figure scorers. The trio combined to go 26-of-42 from the field. Mitchell finished with 21 points and 12 boards, Timberlake had 21 points and four blocks and Evans posted 20 points, nine boards and six assists. Connor Withers finished with 13 points, five boards and a career-high nine assists and Kvonn Cramer chipped in 10 points. 
 
Game Information
No. 1 Bryant 91, No. 4 UAlbany 78
Records: Bryant 22-11 | UAlbany 17-16
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 1,001

Key Moments

• Withers converted a four-point play to kickstart a 14-2 run that opened up a 20-point second half advantage.

How it Happened

• UAlbany opened up an 8-3 lead to start but the Bulldogs scored the next seven points to take a 10-8 lead.
• Mitchell scored five of Bryant's first six points, while Cramer and Timberlake finished in transition to give Bryant a 10-8 lead with 14:10 left in the first half.
• Timberlake would then push Bryant's lead to 19-12 with back-to-back buckets, forcing a UAlbany timeout with 9:43 to play.
• Withers and Kheni Briggs would then trade threes as Bryant led 22-18 at the under-8 media.
• Amar'e Marshall would make it a four-point game with a three before the Bulldogs rattled off the next eight points. Evans had half of the points, finishing a two-handed slam underneath to electrify the Chace.
• Bryant would push its lead to as much as 14, 35-21, thanks to another vicious one-handed slam from Evans with 3:59 left.
• The Great Danes, however, would close the half on a 12-4 run to make it a six-point game, 39-33, at the break.
• Marshall hit from three to pull UAlbany within six, 48-42, but the Bulldogs rallied with a 15-6 run to open up the game.
• The big blow in the run was a four-point play from Withers. He swished a three from in front of the Bryant bench and them calmly sank the free throw to give Bryant a 57-46 lead.
• Cramer then followed with a three-point of his own to make it 63-48 with 13:13 left.
• Withers' third three of the night would give the Bulldogs a 68-48 lead with 11:57 left.
• Bryant would put the game out of reach, shooting 20-of-36 (55.6 percent) from the field in the second half.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 34-of-65 (52.3 percent) from the field, 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) from three and 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) from the line.
• Bryant held a 40-33 edge on the glass and held a 56-28 advantage in the paint.
• Bryant finished the game with 19 assists.
• Mitchell posted 21 points (9-of-14) and 13 rebounds in 26 minutes.
• Timberlake went 10-of-13 from the field to post 21 points. He added three rebounds, three assists and four blocks.
• Evans posted 20 points with nine rebounds and six assists.
• Withers finished with 13 points, five rebounds and nine assists.
• Cramer closed with 10 points and five rebounds.

Game Notes

• Bryant won 2-of-3 this year against UAlbany. The Bulldogs are now 6-4 all-time vs the Great Danes.
• Bryant's 22 victories are tied for the most in a single season in DI program history (2021-22).
• The Black and Gold improve to 8-9 in conference tournament play the DI level. Bryant is 8-3 at home.
• Bryant will be playing in the conference championship game for the third time in five years.
• Bryant is now 11-3 at home this season and 55-12 at home since the beginning of the 2020-21 season.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 27^th time this year and the 80^th time in his career.
• Timberlake posted his 7^th 20-point game of the year and the 16^th of his career.
• Evans has scored in double figures in 27 games this year and 29 games in his career. He recorded 20 points for the third time this season.
• Evans matched his career high with six assists. He had set the mark Jan. 26, 2024 against St. Joe's.
• Mitchell finished in double figures for the 11^th time this season. He posted his sixth double-double of the year. Mitchell finished with 20+ points for the third time this year.
• Cramer finished in double figures for the 11^th time this year and the 24^th time in his career.
• Withers finished in double figures for the 18^th time this year and the 58^th time in his career.
• Withers set a new career high with nine assists.

Up Next
Top-seeded Bryant will host No. 3 Maine in the 2025 Jersey Mike's America East Men's Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 15 at 11:00 a.m. The game will air on ESPN2.