Bryant falls to NC State, 95-72; four Bulldogs in double-figures

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) had 24 points for the second-consecutive game, while three other players were in double figures, but the Bryant University men's basketball team fell 95-72 to NC State Tuesday night at PNC Arena.

Grant had 24 points for the second-straight game to open the season, while freshman Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) had 14 points and six rebounds in his second collegiate game and sophomore Sabastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.) chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

GAME INFORMATION
NC State 95, Bryant 72
Records: Bryant (0-2), NC State (3-0)
Location: PNC Arena (Raleigh, N.C.)
Attendance: 10,472

COACH O'SHEA'S COMMENTS
"I don't think we could have gotten out to a better start on the road. We said we needed to limit our turnovers, but we had a stretch where we did a poor job. We've got good guards, but that's NC State's game. I thought we played well for periods of time, but we didn't sustain it."

KEY MOMENTS

• Bryant started the game on a 14-3 run with five points each from sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) and freshman Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) had five points each.
• The Wolfpack responded and took its first lead with a pair of free throws with 10:33 remaining in the half to lead 23-21.
• After NC State took a 10-point lead into the half, both teams cooled off from the field. The Wolfpack limited the Bulldogs to 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half to extend the cushion and led by at least 17 the rest of the way.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bryant opened the game on a 14-3 run that included a perfect 6-for-6 start from the field. Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) and freshman Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) had five points each in the opening minutes, while senior Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia) added four.
• With Bryant leading 21-10, NC State responded with a 13-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 23-21 with 10:33 to go in the half.
• NC State closed the half on a 9-2 run to take a 50-40 lead into the locker room. Grant had 16 points in the first half.
• Bryant was limited to 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, as both teams cooled off after a first 20 minutes in which Bryant shot 63-percent from the field and NC State shot 57.1-percent.
• The Wolfpack outscored the Bulldogs 45-32 in the second half for the final 95-72 margin. Sophomore Sabastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.) had 11 of his 13 points in the final 16 minutes of the game.

STATS

• Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) led the Bulldogs with 24 points for the second-straight game on 9-of-16 shooting with six assists and four rebounds.
• Sophomore Sabastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.) had 13 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench in his season debut.
• Freshman Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) was in double figures for the second time in as many games to begin his collegiate career, as he tallied 14 points and six rebounds.
• Senior Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia) added 11 points.
• Sophomore Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, Mass.) had five assists.
• Bryant shot 51.9-percent from the field with 19 of its 27 made field goals coming from inside the arc.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant falls to 0-1 all-time against NC State and 1-10 against the ACC.
• Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) had his sixth game of 20-plus points in his first 34 collegiate contests. The sophomore had 24 in Friday's opener at Georgia.
• Grant has scored 10 or more points in 23 of 34 games to begin his Bryant career.
• Grant has averaged 19.4 points per game in five career games against major-conference or nationally ranked opponents (NC State, Georgia, Northwestern, Gonzaga, Notre Dame).
• Sophomore Sabastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.) matched his career-high with eight rebounds and was in double figures in scoring for the ninth time in his career.
• Senior Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia) is 2-0 in winning the opening tip this season.
• Freshman Ryan Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) made his first career start.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs open up the home portion of their schedule when Bryant welcomes Navy to the Chace Athletic Center Saturday at 4 p.m.

Season and single-game tickets for the 2017-18 campaign are currently available by clicking HERE.

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