Kostur and Ndugba score 22 each, but Bryant falls 80-74 to Central Connecticut

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia) and sophomore Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, Mass.) scored 22 points each, but a late comeback bid fell short in the Bryant University men's basketball team's 80-74 setback against Central Connecticut Thursday at the Chace Athletic Center.

Freshman Monty Urmilevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania) recorded his first-career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

GAME INFORMATION
Central Connecticut 80, Bryant 74
Records: Bryant (2-20, 1-8 NEC), Central Connecticut (12-10, 5-4 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

KEY MOMENTS

• Bryant was within 15-12 before CCSU pushed the lead to double digits at 29-18 on a 13-of-19 start from the floor.
• Central Connecticut led by 18 before a 14-2 Bryant run brought the Bulldogs within six at 55-49.
• The Blue Devils extended the lead back to 12 before an 11-2 run from the Bulldogs cut the deficit to three at 74-71. Central Connecticut closed out the game from the free-throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bryant was within 15-12 before CCSU pushed the lead to double digits at 29-18 on a 13-of-19 start from the floor.
• The Blue Devils led 40-25 at the half on 54.5 percent shooting from the floor.
• Grant had nine points to lead the Bulldogs in the first half, while Urmilevicius added six points and six rebounds.
• Central Connecticut jumped ahead by 18 with 13:30 to go for their largest lead of the night.
• Bryant responded with a 14-2 run that cut the deficit to 55-49 with 9:22 to go.
• The Blue Devils extended the lead back to 12 at 64-52 and led 72-60 before an 11-2 Bryant run capped off by the third three-pointer of the night by sophomore Tanner Johnson (Lexington, Ky.) brought the Bulldogs back within three at 74-71 with 1:04 to play.
• Central Connecticut went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to close out the game.

STATS

• Kostur scored 22 points off the bench on 7-of-15 from the floor and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
• Ndugba tallied 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
• Urmilevicius had his first career double-double on 10 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists and two steals.
• Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) added 10 points.
• Johnson was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc for nine points and a career-high three rebounds.
• Bryant shot 41 percent for the game while Central Connecticut recorded a 47.5 shooting percentage.
• The Bulldogs were 13-of-32 from beyond the arc including an 11-of-20 mark in the second half.
• The Blue Devils held a 38-34 rebounding advantage.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant falls to 10-9 against Central Connecticut in the Division I era.
• Kostur's 22 points moved him to 820 for his collegiate career, making him the ninth player in Bryant's Division I era to score 800 points.
• Kostur had 20 or more points for the fourth time this season and seventh in his career, while scoring in double figures for the 10^th time this season and 41^st time as a Bulldog.
• Ndugba had his fifth game of 20 or more points this season and sixth of his career, while tallying his 16^th double-figure output of the season and 24^th of his career.
• Urmilevicius recorded his third-career game of 10 or more points, while Grant was in double figures for the 15^th time this year and 36^th in his career.
• The starting lineup combination of Ndugba, sophomore Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, Ga.), Grant, Urmilevicius and senior Gus Riley (Nelson, New Zealand) was the 14^th of the season, which is tied with Pitt for the most nationally.

UP NEXT
Bryant continues a four-game homestand Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Bulldogs host Fairleigh Dickinson. The game can be seen on NEC Front Row and heard on WOON 1240 AM with Jon Wallach and Tristan Hobbes on the call.

Tickets for Saturday's game and the 2017-18 Bryant University men's basketball season are available by clicking HERE or calling (401) 319-TIXX. 

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