Bryant's 2004-05 team to be recognized in the rafters
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In honor of the 15-year anniversary of the Bryant men's basketball team's historic run to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game, the Bryant University Department of Athletics will honor the 2004-05 team during the annual Basketball Alumni Weekend at the Chace Athletic Center when Bryant hosts Central Connecticut at 4 p.m.
A year prior, the Bulldogs were a few seconds away from earning a trip to the NCAA Elite 8 but on a wintry night in Lowell, Bryant's season came to an end when UMass Lowell hit a last-second basket to claim the regional title, 63-62.
A year later, Bryant was determined not to let history repeat.
The 2004-05 team opened the year with exhibition games at Maryland and defending national champion UConn. The strong preseason tests proved beneficial as the Bulldogs won 19 games during the regular season and were selected once again for the NCAA Division II championship regional, this time hosted by Bentley.
The Bulldogs knocked off each of the three regional conference champions, in Adelphi in the first round, Bloomfield in the semifinals, and the rival Bentley – a team that was ranked No. 1 nationally earlier in the season and were the top seed of the regional, 74-64 in the regional championship to punch their ticket to North Dakota for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
Bryant never trailed in all three regional contests. Junior guard John Williams, who scored 27 points in the exhibition game against Maryland and 21 vs. UConn, was named the Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 25.3 points per game, making 10 of 26 threes, and making 24 of 26 free throws in the three games. He had 28 vs. Bloomfield and poured in 25 against Bentley in the final.
Mike Williams, the conference defensive player of the year, pulled down 35 rebounds and blocked 19 shots in three regional tournament games.
At the Elite Eight, hosted by the University of North Dakota, the Bulldogs earned an opening round win over Mount Olive in the quarterfinals and followed with a 60-55 win over Tarleton State in the national semifinals to earn the right to play for the Division II National Championship. John Williams had 27 points and Mario Correia added 26 in the win over Mount Olive while John Williams followed with a game-high 25 points on 6-of-10 shooting from three-point range in the win over Tarleton.
In the final, a game that was broadcast live on CBS, the Bulldogs ran into a tough Virginia Union squad. Chris Burns scored a career-high 24 points, but the Panthers would hold on down the stretch for a 63-58, ending the magical season for the Bulldogs.
The 2004-05 Bulldogs have a lot to be proud of, and on Saturday, February 8, 2020, Bryant University will recognize that amazing season and run to the national championship game with a banner to permanently displayed in the Chace Athletic Center.
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