Kasperzyk has career day, but Bryant held off by Navy, 83-79

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Freshmen Joe Kasperzyk (New Haven, Conn.) and Patrick Harding (Fairfield, Conn.) posted career-high scoring efforts and five Bulldogs were in double figures, but the Bryant University men's basketball team was held off on the road, 83-79, by Navy Sunday afternoon.

Junior Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) tallied a game-high 21 points for the Black & Gold, while Kasperzyk added 18 with a 12-of-13 showing from the free-throw line and career-high eight assists.

GAME INFORMATION
Navy 83, Bryant 79
Records: Bryant (1-3), Navy (2-2)
Location: Alumni Hall (Annapolis, Md.)

COACH GRASSO'S COMMENTS
"Credit to Navy, who is a very well-coached and disciplined team. We dug ourselves in an early hole and were unable to overcome it. I'm proud of our guys' effort to fight back in the second half. We'll get back to work tomorrow and start to prepare for a local rivalry game at Brown next Sunday." 

KEY MOMENTS

• Navy jumped out to an 18-7 lead in the opening 11 minutes and led 34-27 at the half.
• A pair of Kasperzyk free throws cut the Navy lead to 58-56 with 8:26 to play, but the Midshipmen responded to push their lead to 12 at 72-60 with 3:06 remaining.  
• Bryant cut the deficit to three twice in the final minute on three-pointers from junior SaBastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.) and Grant, with a basket by Grant trimming the Midshipmen advantage to 81-79 with eight seconds to go. A long pass off the ensuing inbound gave the Midshipmen a layup to seal the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bryant was limited to a 1-for-11 start from beyond the arc and trailed 18-7 before a pair of Grant threes brought the Bulldogs within seven at 20-13 with 6:56 to go in the opening half.
• The Bulldogs outscored the Midshipmen 20-16 over the final 7:23 of the half and trailed 34-27 heading to the locker room.
• Bryant used a 12-3 run, capped off by a Kasperzyk steal and dunk, to cut the Navy lead to 40-39 with 17:19 to go.
• The Bulldogs tied the game at 46 on Grant's fifth three of the night with 15:24, but Navy extended its lead back to 10 with 5:11 to go at 68-58, prompting a Bryant timeout.
• Navy extended its cushion to 72-60 before an 11-2 Bryant run capped off by a Townes three-pointer brought the Bulldogs within three at 74-71 with 57.6 seconds remaining.
• The teams traded baskets with Bryant again cutting the deficit to three twice and coming within two on a basket by Grant with eight seconds to go, making the score 81-79. Navy closed out the victory with a layup at the other end.

STATS

• Grant led the Bulldogs with a season-high 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting and 6-of-14 from beyond the arc.
• Kasperzyk recorded a career-high 18 points with 12 coming from the charity stripe. The freshman also dished out a career-best eight assists along with a block and two steals.
• Townes collected 13 points with a 6-of-7 showing from the line.
• Redshirt-senior Byron Hawkins (Fort Washington, Md.) put up a double-digit scoring night for the fourth time in as many games as a Bulldog, chipping in with 12 points.
• Harding scored a career-high 10 points and added eight rebounds.
• Bryant shot 40.7 percent from the floor, while Navy recorded a 53.6 shooting percentage.
• The Bulldogs were outrebounded, 41-28.

GAME NOTES

• Harding had his third game of eight or more rebounds in his first four collegiate contests.
• Bryant drops to 1-4 all-time against Navy.
• The Bulldogs fall to 3-7 in the Division I era against Patriot League members.

UP NEXT
Bryant will play its next three games in the Ocean State, beginning with a contest next Sunday night at Brown. The Nov. 25 meeting between the Bulldogs and Bears in Providence will tip off at 6 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.

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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