Men's Basketball

BRYANT MEN DEFEAT PACE 92-85 TUESDAY
Ezeokoli Leads Five Players in Double Figures with 22

SMITHFIELD, RI -   Sophomore guard Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) led five Bryant University players in double figures as the Bulldogs picked up a 92-85 Northeast-10 Conference win over Pace Wednesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.  The win snaps a two-game losing skid for the Bulldogs who improve to 4-2 overall (1-2 NE-10).  Pace, despite 28 points from Neal Wellington, drops to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

Leading 43-36 at the half courtesy of a Chris Burns (Merrimack, NH) 27-foot three at the buzzer, the Bulldogs built a 14 point lead, 50-36 after another three from Burns just two minutes into the second half.

Pace would not go away as the Bulldogs struggled offensively and Wellington started to heat up.  A jumper by Wellington capped a 13-2 run to bring the Setters to within 57-56.  After two Bryant misses, Pace went ahead for the first time since leading 22-21 early in the first when Ryan Williams drained a three from the top of the key to make it 59-57 with 10:42 left in the game. 

The Bulldogs would answer as Ezeokoli calmly sank a three on Bryant’s next possession to put the Bulldog sup 60-59.  Pace would stick around as two free throws from Chaka Lightburn (20 points) gave the Setters a 63-62 lead, but Nathaniel Sudlow (Brooklyn, NY) hit a baseline three at the other end to put the Bulldogs back on top and Bryant would never look back. 

Dan Hammond (Brunswick, Maine) helped seal the victory with three-straight three-pointers as the Bulldogs made 13 threes on the night.  Burns finished with 16 points while freshman Jarrenn Wright (Cincinnati, OH) added 13 points and five rebounds.  John Williams (Springfield, Mass) and Sudlow finished with 11. 

Oneil Morgan had 22 points for Pace while Ryan Williams was held to just seven points.  The sophomore came into the game averaging 20.0 ppg.  Bryant will travel to Southern Connecticut on Saturday while Pace will host AIC in Pleasantville, NY.

Press Release courtesy of Bryant University Sports Information