Bryant meets Columbia Friday in New York
NEW YORK - The Bryant University men's basketball team looks to build on a home victory over New Hampshire when the Black & Gold travels to New York City for a Friday night contest at Columbia on ESPN+.
The Particulars
Opponent: Columbia
Location: Levien Gymnasium (New York, N.Y.)
Date and Time: Friday, Dec. 7 – 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ (Lance Medow, Dr. John Giannini)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #12Seven4 | #NECMBB
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Columbia is 1-6 on the year after Wednesday's 64-62 home loss to Colgate. Three of Columbia's six losses - Fordham, Delaware and Colgate - have been by two points or less. The Lions' lone victory came Nov. 25 over Division III St. Joseph's College Brooklyn.
Mike Smith leads the Lions at 17.1 points per game, while Gabe Stefanini has added 14.7. Randy Brumant has grabbed a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game while coming off the bench in all seven games.
THE SERIES
Bryant and Columbia are meeting for the first time since the 2010-11 season and fourth time overall. The Lions have won all three meetings with the most recent coming in 2010 in New York. Bryant erased a 17-point deficit in that contest before Columbia hit a three-pointer with 48 seconds remaining to reclaim the lead for good in a 76-72 Lions victory.
LAST TIME OUT: BRYANT 75, NEW HAMPSHIRE 65
Redshirt-senior Byron Hawkins (Fort Washington, Md.) and junior Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) scored 20 points each, while junior SaBastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.) recorded his second double-double of the year, as Bryant erased a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat New Hampshire Saturday at the Chace Athletic Center.
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Friday's game will be the first of four Bryant plays during the regular season in the five boroughs of New York City. The Bulldogs will play one game on Staten Island (Jan. 31) and two in Brooklyn (Feb. 28, March 2) during NEC play.
BASH BOARDS = VICTORIES
Junior SaBastian Townes collected his second double-double of the year in Saturday's win over New Hampshire. The Bulldogs are 2-0 when Townes grabs 10 rebounds, picking up victories over Saint Peter's and New Hampshire.
YOU'RE MY HOME
Bryant has recorded two home non-conference wins over Division I opponents this season (Saint Peter's, New Hampshire), marking the first time since the 2013-14 season that the Bulldogs have done so.
NOT BASHFUL FROM BEYOND THE ARC
Junior SaBastian Townes hit his sixth three-pointer of the year in Saturday's win over Hampshire. Townes, who is 6-of-14 from long distance this year, made a combined four three-pointers in his first two seasons.
BIG SHOTS
Bryant hit three of its final four three-point attempts in Saturday's victory over New Hampshire, with redshirt-senior Byron Hawkins and juniors SaBastian Townes and Adam Grant knocking down trifectas. The lone miss was rebounded by the Bulldogs, leading to Grant's three with 1:16 to go that put Bryant ahead 69-64.
GLASS HOUSES
Freshman Patrick Harding (Fairfield, Conn.) leads all NEC rookies and ranks 16th nationally among freshmen with 7.3 rebounds per game this season. Harding has grabbed seven or more boards in five of seven contests this season.
KAS RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME
Freshman Joe Kasperzyk (New Haven, Conn.) leads all NEC freshmen in free throws made (27), free-throw attempts (32) and free-throw percentage (.844). Kasperzyk's .844 mark from the line ranks 16th nationally among first-year players.
UP NEXT: HARTFORD
Bryant returns home for its next two games, beginning with a Wednesday night contest against Hartford. The 7 p.m. tip can be seen on NEC Front Row and heard on WOON AM 1240 & 99.3 FM with Jon Wallach and Chris Burns on the call. Tickets for Wednesday's game vs. Hartford are available by clicking HERE.
Season and single-game tickets for home games at the Chace Athletic Center are available by clicking HERE or calling (401) 319-TIXX.
Follow Bryant University men's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get an inside look at the program.