Wednesday clash at Drexel up next for Bryant
PHILADELPHIA - The Bryant University men's basketball team looks to reach its second-longest winning streak in the program's Division I era when the Bulldogs travel to Philadelphia to face Drexel in the final game of the Garden State Showcase.
Bryant enters Wednesday on a four-game winning streak - its longest since 2015 - and with a victory would win five straight for the first time since an eight-game run in 2013.
The Particulars
Opponent: Drexel
Location: Daskalakis Athletic Center (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 20 – 7 p.m.
Watch: FloSports ($) (Rob Brooks, Mike Tuberosa)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #12Seven4 | #NECMBB
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
Drexel is 2-3 with two of the losses by single digits to major-conference opponents, falling by eight to Temple in the Dragons' opener and being held off by Rutgers in a five-point contest. The Dragons have defeated Niagara and Abilene Christian for their two victories.
James Butler leads Drexel with 14.2 points per game on 62.2 percent shooting along with a team-high 12.2 rebounds per game. Zach Walton has added 10.4 points per game off the bench. The Dragons are averaging 20.6 turnovers per game while their opponents are at 13.4.
THE SERIES
The Bulldogs and Dragons are meeting for the first time Wednesday in what will be Bryant's first game in the city of Philadelphia. Bryant is 0-1 all-time against CAA members and facing its first since 108-107 overtime loss to Delaware at Madison Square Garden in the 2013-14 season.
LAST TIME OUT: BRYANT 73, NIAGARA 62
Bryant scored 43 points in the first half and grabbed 52 rebounds for the game, as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 21-point lead and turned aside Niagara Monday in Western New York.
CONNECT FOUR
Bryant's Monday victory gave the Bulldogs four straight wins for the first time since Bryant defeated Saint Francis U, Fairleigh Dickinson, Wagner and Central Connecticut Jan. 8-17, 2015.
A win Wednesday would give the Bulldogs their longest streak since the program-record eight straight from Dec. 22, 2012-Jan. 19, 2013.
GLASS IS IN SESSION
Bryant had zero games of 50 or more rebounds through the Bulldogs' first 340 Division I contests, never reaching more than 46 after 11 seasons and three games.
The Bulldogs have rewritten that column of the record book over the last week, grabbing 53 rebounds at Saint Peter's, 55 vs. NVU-Lyndon and 52 at Niagara for Bryant's three highest rebounding totals in the program's D1 era in a span of three games.
Bryant's 278 total rebounds rank first in the nation, while the Bulldogs 46.3 per game average is ninth.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Bryant has scored at least 42 points in the first half of three of its last four games with 42 against Cornell, 57 vs. NVU-Lyndon and 43 at Niagara.
BOARD MAN GETS WINS
Sophomore Patrick Harding (Fairfield, Conn.) is averaging 12.3 rebounds per game over his first six games of 2019-20 and 14.5 during Bryant's four-game winning streak. The 12.3 average ranks seventh nationally through Monday and 74 total rebounds lead the country. Harding has added 8.3 points per game during the four-game stretch against Cornell, Saint Peter's, NVU-Lyndon and Niagara.
Harding has collected 34.5% of potential defensive rebounds while on the floor this season, good for 15th nationally and first in the NEC. The sophomore from Connecticut ranked 25th in the nation last season and first among freshmen.
NEW DAWG CITY
Bryant's newcomers have provided 54.6% of the Bulldogs' scoring so far this season, including four of Bryant's top five in points per game. Freshmen Charles Pride (Syracuse, N.Y.) (10.8 ppg), Michael Green III (Bronx, N.Y.) (9.7) and Benson Lin (New Taipei City, Taiwan) (7.8) rank second, third and fourth on the team in scoring.
MAKING OUR MARK FROM BEYOND THE ARC
Bryant has attempted 51% of its field goals from three through its first five contests against Division I opponents, the ninth most in the country. The Bulldogs have scored 43.4% of their points from long distance, which ranks 11th nationally.
Bryant's 198 three-point attempts are the most in the nation, while the Bulldogs' 67 makes rank second. Senior Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) is second in made threes (23) and first in attempts (59).
UP NEXT: NEW HAMPSHIRE
After playing seven games in 16 days to begin the season, Bryant will have six days before its next contest Tuesday at New Hampshire. The 7 p.m. game can be seen on ESPN3.
Bryant Men's Basketball 2019-20 season tickets are available by clicking HERE. The Bulldogs' next home game will be the second half of a Bryant Basketball doubleheader Monday, Dec. 2, when Bryant hosts Navy at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Dec. 2 contest are available HERE.
Follow Bryant University men's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get an inside look at the program.