Bryant downed by Fairleigh Dickinson, 89-78; sophomores combine for 54 points

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) scored 25 points and Tanner Johnson (Lexington, Ky.) added a career-high 19, but the Bryant University men's basketball team was outlasted by Fairleigh Dickinson, 89-78, Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

GAME INFORMATION
Fairleigh Dickinson 89, Bryant 78
Records: Bryant (2-21, 1-9 NEC), Fairleigh Dickinson (7-14, 4-6 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

KEY MOMENTS

• Johnson hit four three-pointers in the first seven minutes as the Bulldogs built a 20-10 lead.
• A 19-3 FDU run turned a nine-point Bryant lead into a seven-point deficit at 34-27. The Bulldogs would cut it to a one-point game at the half.
• Bryant grabbed a 62-61 lead with 7:46 to go on a three-point play from sophomore Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, Mass.), but FDU answered with a 10-2 run to push its lead to seven and the Knights held off the Bulldogs down the stretch.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Freshman Monty Urmilevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania) scored the first five Bryant points of the game and Johnson followed with the next nine to give Bryant a 14-8 lead with 15:04 to go in the first half.
• Bryant jumped ahead 24-15 before a 10-0 FDU run gave the Knights a 25-24 lead with eight minutes to play in the first half. Johnson's fifth three of the half snapped the run.
• A Johnson three and five points from Grant brought the Bulldogs within 36-35 at the half.
• Johnson had 18 first-half points while Grant added 10.
• Four points from senior Gus Riley (Nelson, New Zealand) opened the Bulldogs' second-half scoring and gave Bryant a 39-38 lead with 18:51 remaining.
• FDU led 52-44 before an 8-1 Bryant run brought the Bulldogs back within one.
• Bryant retook the lead on a three-point play from Ndugba to put the Bulldogs up 62-61 with 7:46 to play.
• FDU answered with a 10-2 run to pull ahead 71-64 with 4:54 to play.
• Bryant cut it to 83-78 on a Grant three-pointer with 49 seconds remaining but FDU closed out the game from the line.

STATS

• Grant scored 25 points with a 9-of-11 showing from the free-throw line and six rebounds.
• Johnson added a career-high 19 points with six three-pointers and a career-high six rebounds.
• Ndugba chipped in 10 second-half points and tallied five assists.
• Riley recorded a season-high nine points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.
• Urmilevicius scored nine points and is averaging 7.5 points per game in conference play.
• Senior Bosko Kostur (Melbourne, Australia) had his second 10-rebound game of the season.
• Bryant tied its Division I single-game program record with 46 total rebounds, achieved three other times, with the last coming in 2011.
• The Bulldogs shot 33.8 percent from the floor, while the Knights shot 45.9 percent.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant drops to 8-8 against Fairleigh Dickinson in the Division I era.
• Grant had his 10^th game of 20 or more points this season and 14^th of his career.
• Johnson's 19-point game eclipsed a 15-point night at Dartmouth (12/22).
• Riley and Kostur were the first Bulldog duo to both grab double-digit rebounds this season.

UP NEXT
Bryant continues a four-game homestand Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Bulldogs host St. Francis Brooklyn. The game can be seen on NEC Front Row and heard on WOON 1240 AM with Cam Boon and Tristan Hobbes on the call.

Tickets for Thursday'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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