Bryant hosts St. Francis Brooklyn Thursday in NEC opener
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University men's basketball team begins its 18-game Northeast Conference slate in the friendly confines of the Chace Athletic Center when the Bulldogs host St. Francis Brooklyn Thursday.
The Particulars
Opponent: St. Francis Brooklyn
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Date and Time: Thursday, Jan. 3 – 7 p.m.
Tickets: Holiday Hoops
Watch: NEC Front Row (Jon Wallach, Chris Burns)
Listen: WOON AM 1240 & 99.3 FM (Jon Wallach, Chris Burns)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Bryant | St. Francis Brooklyn | NEC
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #12Seven4 | #NECMBB
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Dollar Dog Night Presented by Sodexo
Sodexo is providing $1 hot dogs for Bryant's four Thursday night home games at the Chace Athletic Center this season.
SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
St. Francis Brooklyn posted an 8-5 record in non-conference play with six wins over Division I opponents. The Bulldogs and Terriers share one mutual opponent, as both teams defeated Saint Peter's on their home courts.
Jalen Jordan leads the Terriers at 15.6 points per game, while Chauncey Hawkins has added 12.6 while appearing off the bench in all 13 games. Christian Rohlehr has collected 21 blocks on the year, good for second in the NEC.
THE SERIES
St. Francis Brooklyn holds an 11-6 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to Bryant's first Division I season in 2008-09. The home team is 14-3 in the series.
The Terriers took both matchups a year ago, falling 85-80 in Brooklyn Heights in January and 83-79 in Smithfield in February. Adam Grant (26) and Ikenna Ndugba (25) combined for 51 of Bryant's 80 points in the road meeting.
LAST TIME OUT: NO. 24 IOWA 72, BRYANT 67
The Bulldogs battled to the wire with the No. 24 Hawkeyes Saturday in Iowa City, as the teams were tied into the final three minutes of the contest, but Iowa staved off an upset-minded Bryant despite 23 points from junior Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.).
KASPERZYK GOING BACK-TO-BACK
Freshman Joe Kasperzyk (New Haven, Conn.) has been named NEC Co-Rookie of the Week in each of the last two weeks. Kasperzyk scored a career-high 19 points in the win over Dartmouth and chipped in 13 against Iowa, including a pair of game-tying baskets in the final five minutes.
TANNER LIKES THREES
Junior Tanner Johnson (Lexington, Ky.) had not attempted a free throw all season entering Saturday's game at Iowa, as all but one of his field goal attempts had come from beyond the arc. Johnson's first trip to the line this year was to complete a conventional three-point play at Iowa. The junior had a season-high 16 points against the Hawkeyes with a 4-for-9 showing from three.
ORDERING A LIFT
Freshman Joe Kasperzyk has provided a spark in the three games in which he has come off the bench, averaging 15.3 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the floor in the games against Navy, Dartmouth and Iowa. Kasperzyk's 19 points against the Big Green and 18 vs. the Midshipmen are the two highest scoring outputs so far in his collegiate career.
ADAM ADDING TO CAREER NUMBERS
Junior Adam Grant climbed to fifth on Bryant's Division I career scoring list with a 23-point effort Saturday at Iowa. Grant has scored 1,030 points in his time in Black & Gold and surpassed Nisre Zouzoua, who tallied 1,025, against the Hawkeyes.
Grant enters Thursday 20 points of shy of fourth on the list, held by Corey Maynard with 1,050 career points.
MAKING A POINT ABOUT POINTS
Bryant enters conference play having limited each of its last two opponents at least 10 points under their season scoring averages. The Bulldogs held a Dartmouth team averaging 78.1 points per game to 67 and allowed just 72 to an Iowa team that came in scoring 84.1 per game.
UP NEXT: LIU BROOKLYN
Bryant closes out the first weekend of the NEC schedule when the Bulldogs host LIU Brooklyn Saturday at 4 p.m.
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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