Bryant travels to Merrimack Wednesday
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Bryant University men's basketball team plays its first road game of its NEC schedule when the Bulldogs travel to Massachusetts for their first game against conference newcomer Merrimack in the Division I era.
The Bulldogs enter Wednesday at 9-7 on the year and 1-2 in the NEC as they begin a stretch of four of their next six away from Smithfield.
The Particulars
Opponent: Merrimack
Location: Hammel Court (North Andover, Mass.)
Date and Time: Wednesday, Jan. 15 – 7 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row (Craig White, Shane Rhuda)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #12Seven4 | #NECMBB
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Merrimack is off to a 3-1 start in its first season in the NEC with wins over Sacred Heart, Mount St. Mary's and Central Connecticut. The Warriors are 9-8 on the year with a victory over Northwestern on their resume.
Juvaris Hayes leads Merrimack with 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game along with 64 steals - a total that leads the nation. The Warriors have a -11 rebounding margin in NEC play.
THE SERIES
The Bulldogs and Warriors are meeting for the first time as Division I members and 53rd time overall. Merrimack holds a 33-19 advantage in the all-time series with the last meeting in 2008.
Wednesday marks the first time Bryant has faced an opponent in its inaugural Division I season since the Bulldogs made their own leap to D1 in 2008-09.
LAST TIME OUT: MOUNT ST. MARY'S 67, BRYANT 65
Mount St. Mary's shot 55.2% in the second half to erase a 10-point Bryant halftime advantage and leave Smithfield with a victory Saturday. Senior Adam Grant (Franklin, Va.) scored 17 points in the defeat.
MR. NICE WATCH
Grant was named to the Lou Henson Award Midseason Watch List Thursday. Grant ranks second in the NEC and 35th nationally as of Monday at 19.5 points per game, has made 60 three-pointers on the year (good for eighth nationally), and has collected 20 or more points 10 times this season including games against Big Ten members Rutgers and Maryland. The Lou Henson Award is given to the nation's top mid-major player.
HALL IN, BALL OUT
Redshirt-junior Hall Elisias (Valley Stream, N.Y.) leads the NEC in blocks per game (3.0) and ranks 16th in rebounding (5.6). Elisias has recorded four of Bryant's top six single-game block totals in his first 15 games as a Bulldog with eight vs. Navy and six against Rutgers, Columbia and Dartmouth.
Elisias has blocked 17.7% of opponents' two-point attempts while on the floor this season, which leads the nation.
The 48 total blocks for Elisias this year rank tied for second in a single season in Bryant's Division I era, sixth in D1 career history, and 11th nationally.
BENSON BUCKETS
Freshman Benson Lin (New Taipei City, Taiwan) is averaging 11.6 points per game since the start of December. The Bulldogs are 7-0 this season when Lin scores at least 10 points.
NOTES FROM DOWNTOWN
Bryant has made at least 40% of its three-pointers in four games this year - 48.4% vs. Cornell, 40.0% at Fordham, 44.4% at Dartmouth and 47.8% vs. Mount St. Mary's.
The Bulldogs have held opponents to 29.7% from beyond the arc - the best mark in the NEC and 57th in the nation.
UP NEXT: LONG ISLAND
Bryant returns to the Chace for a Saturday meeting with Long Island. Tickets are available HERE and the 4 p.m. tip can be seen on NEC Front Row.
Bryant Men's Basketball tickets are available by clicking HERE.
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