Bryant drops opener to Manhattan, 61-59

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's basketball team fell to Manhattan, 61-59, on Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

Bryant and Manhattan were playing for the second-straight season and both games have gone down to the wire. Phil Martelli Jr. made his head coaching debut as the acting head coach.

Sherif Gross-Bullock finished with 14, Tyler Brelsford added 13 and Daniel Rivera finished with 10. Rivera also added nine rebounds and three blocks, while Earl Timberlake had nine points 13 rebounds and four assists.

Game Information
Manhattan 61, Bryant 59
Records: Bryant 0-1 | Manhattan 1-0
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 752

Key Moments

• Manhattan got a shot to go inside with under a minute to go and Bryant's chance at the buzzer fell short.

How it Happened

• Gross-Bullock started hot for the Black and Gold, hitting three early three point field goals as Bryant raced out to an 11-2 lead in the first three minutes.
• The Jasper would rally from 13-4 down to take an 18-16 lead with 8:13 remaining.
• Gross-Bullock's fourth three of the half would give Bryant the lead back momentarily before a 10-0 Manhattan run made it 28-19 with 5:22 left.
• Brelsford would hit from the top of the arc to make it a six-point game, 28-22, at the under-4 media.
• It would be the start of a strong first half for Brelsford as he would knock down a wing three and a tough floater in the lane for eight first-half points.
• Bryant closed the half with a flurry as Miles Latimer drilled a three as the clock ran out, pulling the Black and Gold within two, 35-33.
• The Black and Gold opened the second half with a highlight dunk as Gross-Bullock tossed a perfect alley-oop for Rivera, tying the score at 35-35.
• Bryant would find itself down again before a five-point run gave the Black and Gold the lead back at 44-43 with 13:23 left. Rivera finished another alley-oop and Brelsford completed a traditional three-point play.
• The Jasper would retake the lead again in the half but Latimer gave Bryant the lead with a huge three from the corner with 6:41 left.
• Rivera would give Bryant a 55-54 lead with 3:41 left before Manhattan's first triple of the game made it 57-55 with under three minutes to play.
• A pair of  Timberlake free throws following his sixth offensive rebound of the game would tie the score at 57-57 with 2:03 left.
• The Jaspers took the final lead as a layup rolled over the rim with under a minute to go.
• Bryant had a chance with three seconds left but the layup was off the mark.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 21-of-61 (34.4 percent) from the field, 9-of-23 (39.1 percent) from three and 8-of-20 (40.0 percent) from the line.
• Manhattan held a 46-42 advantage in rebounding.
• Bryant blocked seven shots in the game.
• Gross-Bullock posted 14 points, hitting 4-of-10 from three.
• Timberlake picked up nine points, 13 rebounds and four assists.
• Rivera posted 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three blocks.
• Brelsford posted 13 points on 5-of-7 from the field.
• Latimer had eight points and five boards off the bench.  

Game Notes

• Bryant and Manhattan have split meetings the last two seasons.
• The Bulldogs have lost each of their last two home openers against DI opponents (Brown – 2019).
• Phil Martelli Jr. was serving his first game as acting head coach.
• Bryant held Manhattan to just 1-of-15 from three.
• Brelsford has now scored 15 and 13 in  his last two games dating  back to last year.

Up Next
Bryant welcomes Fisher College to the Chace Athletic Center on Wednesday for a 4:00 p.m. matinee tip.