Townes earns NEC honor in first week of the season

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After an impressive opening performance against Notre Dame on Saturday, Bryant University men's basketball freshman Sabastian Townes (Norfolk, Va.) has been named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Following in the footsteps of 2015-16 NEC Rookie of the Year Marcel Pettway (North Providence, R.I.), Townes delivered the goods in his first collegiate game on Saturday. The Norfolk, Va., native finished with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor in 20 minutes off the bench. He added four rebounds and an assist in an 89-64 loss against an Irish team that was receiving votes, as 10 of his points came in the second half. The 16 points tied for the most by a Bryant freshman in his debut in the program's Division I history, tying that of sophomore Nisre Zouzoua (Brockton Mass.) and Alex Francis ('14).

The Bulldogs take on Salve Regina in the home opener Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.