Bulldog comeback bid falls short at FDU

HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Bryant University men's basketball team cut a 17-point deficit to one late in the second half but was unable to complete the comeback in a 97-84 loss Saturday at Fairleigh Dickinson.

Junior Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) scored 27 points to lead the Bulldogs, while junior SaBastian Townes (Chesapeake, Va.) added 23.

GAME INFORMATION
Fairleigh Dickinson 97, Bryant 84
Records: Bryant (8-17, 5-9 NEC), Fairleigh Dickinson (13-13, 8-6 NEC)
Location: Rothman Center (Hackensack, N.J.)

KEY MOMENTS

• The Knights led by as many as 17 in the first half, building a 42-25 advantage.
• The Bulldogs cut the deficit to one with 7:17 remaining, but the Knights scored the next 10 points to extend their lead to 78-67.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Fairleigh Dickinson opened up a 19-7 lead over the first 5:01.
• The Knights pushed their advantage to 17 before four straight from Townes cut the deficit to 42-29 with 2:30 to play before the half.
• Bryant cut the FDU lead to 45-33 at the half. Grant had 11 points in the opening 20 minutes, while Townes added 10.
• A pair of Grant three-pointers helped cut into the FDU lead early in the second half with the second bringing Bryant back within 53-46 with 16:17 to play.
• Bryant cut the Knights advantage to three twice, the second coming on a three from junior Juan Cardenas (Medellin, Colombia) to make it 68-65 going into the under-8 media timeout. Cardenas would add two free throws 43 seconds later to make it a one-point game.
• FDU would score the next 10 points to take a 78-67 lead with 3:39 remaining.
• Bryant trimmed the margin to seven on three occasions before FDU closed out the game at the free throw line.

STATS

• Grant scored 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting and 5-of-12 from beyond the arc.
• Townes' 23 points came 9-of-18 from the field and 2-for-5 from three.
• Cardenas chipped in 12 points – matching his career-high – and added a career-best nine rebounds.
• Freshman Joe Kasperzyk (New Haven, Conn.) added 14 points.
• Bryant shot 48.3 percent from the field, while Fairleigh Dickinson shot 57.9 percent.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded the Knights, 35-28, for Bryant's best rebounding margin of the season.

GAME NOTES

• Grant averaged 29.5 points per game in two contests this weekend, while Townes averaged 25.0.
• Bryant drops to 8-11 all-time against Fairleigh Dickinson.

UP NEXT
Bryant returns home to host Wagner Thursday at the Chace Athletic Center. Tickets for the 7 p.m. tip are available by clicking HERE. The game will be televised nationwide on CBS Sports Network.

Tickets for home games at the Chace Athletic Center are available by clicking HERE or calling (401) 319-TIXX.

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