Larry Levanti Photo
Larry Levanti Photo

Bryant completes sweep of Wagner, matches best start

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Michael Green III broke a tie with 39 seconds left and the Bryant University men's basketball team held on for an 81-75 victory over Wagner College on Thursday afternoon.

Green III's trifecta helped the Black and Gold become the first team in the Northeast Conference to win both games in this year's two-game series format. It also pushed Bryant's record to 6-2 on the year, its best start since the 2013-14 season.

The Bronx native posted his first-career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 10 assists, while redshirt-senior Peter Kiss chipped in 20 points, four boards, four steals and three assists. Classmate Hall Elisias flirted with a triple-double on Thursday, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high seven blocks. Sophomore Charles Pride posted a season-high 18 points and junior Chris Childs added 10 points, five boards and three assists.   

Game Information
Bryant 81, Wagner 75
Records: Bryant 6-2, 3-1 NEC | Wagner 0-3, 0-2 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletic Center

Key Moments

  • Wagner erased a 15-point second-half deficit, tying the game at 73-73 with 57 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Green III took a kickout pass from Kiss and drained a three to give Bryant the lead back.   

How it Happened

  • Thursday's game started slow for both as the teams hit the first media timeout with Wagner leading 9-6.
  • Pride came out of the timeout on fire, drilling a three to tie the game at 11-11 and then hitting another three to give the Bulldogs a 14-13 lead. He followed with another trifecta less than a minute later to make it 17-15.
  • Wagner would build a four-point lead, it's largest, before back-to-back threes from Green III and Childs tied the game at 26-26 with 6:02 left in the half.
  • Kiss then did his part, pouring in nine points over the final five minutes, including a three with four seconds left, to give Bryant a 43-40 lead at the half.
  • Sparked by a boisterous bench, Bryant opened the second half with a 9-0 run. A three from Green III and a pair of three-point plays from Kiss made it 52-40 with 16:47 left.
  • Bryant pushed its lead to 15 with back-to-back uncontested layups from Childs at the 14-minute mark.
  • With Bryant leading by 11 with 10:03 left, Wagner went on a 21-10 run to tie the game. Elijah Ford's three-point play made it 73-73 with 57 seconds left.
  • On the next possession, Kiss drove the lane and kicked it out to Green III on the wing for the decisive three.
  • Wagner then missed a three on the other end and Bryant was able to make 5-of-6 from the line to close it out.  

Stats

  • Bryant finished the game 24-of-54 (44.4 percent) from the field, 12-of-29 (41.4) from three and 21-of-28 (75.0) from the line.
  • Bryant was outrebounded, 40-33, but held a 22-18 advantage in the second half.
  • The Bulldogs posted 19 assists on 24 made field goals.
  • Green III posted his first-career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 10 assists. He added three boards and two steals.
  • Kiss had 20 points, four boards, four steals and three assists.
  • Elisias posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. He finished three blocks shy of a triple-double. Elisias was 8-of-9 from the line.
  • Pride had 18 points, five boards, four steals and two assists.
  • Childs finished with 10 points, five boards and three assists.   

Game Notes

  • Bryant is now 11-11 all-time against Wagner and has won six-straight games against the Seahawks.
  • Bryant's 6-2 start matches its best start in DI program history (2013-14).  
  • Bryant is the first team in the NEC to win both games in the new scheduling format.
  • Bryant improve to 4-0 at home this season.
  • Bryant has shot over 40 percent in each of the first eight games.
  • Kiss has now scored in double-figures seven times and has five 20-point games.
  • Kiss has scored 20+ points in three of Bryant's four NEC games.  
  • Green III registered his first-career double-double. He's the first Bulldog in DI program history to post at least 20 points and 10 assists in a game.
  • Kiss and Green III have each scored 20 points in the same game for the second time this year.
  • Pride has scored in double-figures in seven-of-eight games this year. His 18 points are the most he's scored against an NEC opponent in his career.
  • Childs has scored in double-figures in all eight games this year.  
  • Elisias posted his second double-double of the year.
  • Elisias blocked seven shots in the game, the third-most in a single-game in DI program history.
  • Elisias now has 102 career blocks, becoming just the second player in DI program history to reach the century mark (Dan Garvin).

Up Next

Bryant travels to Amherst, Massachusetts, on Monday to take on UMass. The game will air live on NESN and ESPN+.