Grasso Era begins Tuesday when Bryant faces URI

KINGSTON, R.I. - The Bryant University men's basketball team opens the 2018-19 season with the debut of head coach Jared Grasso and an in-state clash with Rhode Island, as the Bulldogs travel to Kingston Tuesday for the first time since 1986.

Tuesday's game will be Bryant's first against Rhode Island in the Black and Gold's Division I era, as the two schools met three times in the 1980s during Bryant's time in Division II. The contest will also be the Bulldogs' first regular-season meeting with an Atlantic 10 opponent since moving up to Division I in 2008-09, as Bryant hosted Richmond in the 2013 CBI.

The Particulars
Opponent: Rhode Island
Location: Ryan Center (Kingston, R.I.)
Date and Time: Tuesday, Nov. 6 – 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ (Live)/COX YurView (Tape Delay) (Stone Freeman)
Radio: WOON AM 1240/99.3 FM (Jon Wallach, Chris Burns)
Live Stats: Presto Sports
Game Notes: Bryant | Rhode Island
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #12Seven4 | #NECMBB 

SCOUTING THE RAMS
Rhode Island also plays its first game under a new head coach Tuesday, as David Cox was promoted to lead the Rams following Dan Hurley's departure for UConn last spring. URI went 26-8 a year ago and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.

The Rams graduated four of their top five scorers from a season ago but return guards Jeff Dowtin (9.6 ppg) and Fatts Russell (7.0) in addition to leading rebounder Cyril Langevine (5.8 rpg). Rhode Island was third in the nation last season in turnover margin (5.1) with Dowtin third nationally as an individual (4.4).

THE SERIES
The meeting between the Bulldogs and Rams is the first in the Division I era. Bryant and Rhode Island met three consecutive years from 1984-86 with the Rams taking all three contests during the then-Indians' Division II days. 

THE LAST TIME WE MET
The last matchup between Bryant and Rhode Island came Dec. 8, 1986 at Keaney Gym. The Rams won the game 100-53 in front of 2,239 fans - an attendance number that will be surpassed Tuesday.

In December of 1986, the national average cost of gas was $0.93, Bryant President Ronald K. Machtley was two years away from his first campaign for the United States Congress, and the Red Sox and Patriots had played in the most recent World Series and Super Bowl. 

BULLDOG/RAM CONNECTIONS
» Redshirt-sophomore Monty Urmilevicius (Kaunas, Lithuania) was a high school teammate of Rhode Island redshirt-sophomore Michael Tertsea at the John Carroll School in Maryland. 

» Bryant assistant coach Chris Cole was the high school coach of Rhode Island freshman Jermaine Harris at Rock Creek Christian in Maryland.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
Bryant's previous seven head coaches have combined to go 5-2 in their debuts on the Bulldog bench. Max Good (2001), Leon Drury (1978), Tom Folliard (1968), Tom Duffy (1964) and Earl Shannon (1963) were all victorious in their first game at the helm. 

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?
All seven Bulldog returners made at least seven starts a year ago as Bryant's 17 starting lineup combinations ranked in the top five in the nation. The Black and Gold returns 72.4 percent of its scoring from a year ago, including three double-digit scorers in juniors Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.), Ikenna Ndugba (Boston, Mass.) and SaBastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.). 

SHOOTERS SHOOT
Bryant made 40.1 percent of its field goal attempts in 2017-18 from beyond the arc, which ranked third in the NEC behind Mount St. Mary's (48%) and St. Francis Brooklyn (41.5%). The Bulldogs return three players who attempted 100 or more three-pointers a year ago in juniors Adam Grant (190), Ikenna Ndugba (153) and Tanner Johnson (Lexington, Ky.) (127). 

MR. STEAL YOUR PASS
Junior Ikenna Ndugba needs one steal to become the fourth Bulldog at the Division I level to collect 100 for his career. Ndugba closed out his sophomore campaign with a Division I program-record eight thefts at Fairleigh Dickinson. 

UP NEXT: SEATTLE
Bryant will be off until Sunday, when the Bulldogs travel to the West Coast to meet Seattle for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs and Redhawks will play at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT at the accesso Showare Center in Kent, Washington. 

Season and single-game tickets for home games at the Chace Athletic Center are available by clicking HERE or calling (401) 319-TIXX.

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