Gross-Bullock scores 41 as Bryant downs UMBC on Saturday

BALTIMORE – Sherif Gross-Bullock poured in a career-high 41 points to spark the Bryant University men's basketball team to an 81-67 victory over UMBC in the America East opener for both teams at the Peake.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 9-7 overall and 1-0 in the league. It marks the second-straight year Bryant has opened conference play with a victory.

Gross-Bullock was unconscious on Saturday, making 16-of-24 field goals to become the third player in DI program history to score 40+ points in game. His 41-point outburst also tied him with La Salle's Jhamir Brickus for the most in a game this season in Division I.

Bryant's defense shined in the second half on Saturday as the Bulldogs overcame a three-point halftime deficit, outscoring UMBC 48-31 in the final 20. That included a 28-13 finish as the Bulldogs erased a 54-53 deficit with 9:32 remaining. Bryant made 11-of-17 from the field and 5-of-8 from three to close.

Game Information
Bryant 81, UMBC 67
Records: Bryant 9-7, 1-0 AE | UMBC 5-11, 0-1 AE
Location: The Peake (Baltimore, Md.)
Attendance: 715

Key Moments

• Gross-Bullock made a driving layup and then swished a three from in front of his own bench to give Bryant a four-point lead with 8:53 left. Bryant would not relinquish the lead.

How it Happened

• UMBC raced out to an early lead behind the hot shooting of Dion Brown. Brown scored 10 of his team's first 17 points as the Retrievers led 17-11 at the under-12 media.
• Bryant, on the other hand, starting slow offensively. The Bulldogs started 5-of-18 from the field and turned the ball over four times.
• Gross-Bullock woke up the Bryant offense, drilling a deep three from the top to get things started.
• SGB would knock down two more threes but UMBC was able to answer with a three on the other end, keeping the Retrievers ahead, 23-16.
• Coming out of the under-8 media, Gross-Bullock scored six-straight points to pull Bryant within two, 24-22.
• Bryant had a chance to tie the game but hit just 1-of-2 from the line.
• UMBC quickly pushed the lead back to five before a Daniel Rivera dunk stopped the brief run.
• The sequence set up a frantic finish to the first half as the Retrievers took a lead into the locker room.
• Earl Timberlake and Gross-Bullock hit consecutive shots to pull Bryant within one (29-30) but UMBC would score the next six points, four from Brown.
• Gross-Bullock would hit from three and Rivera would make 1-of-2 from the line to pull Bryant within three, 36-33, at the break.
• Bryant's defense answered the bell to start the second half, blocking three shots and holding UMBC to 1-of-7.
• Meanwhile, SGB turned a steal into a fastbreak layup and then canned a three from the corner to give Bryant its first lead, 38-36.
• UMBC would tie the game, but Bryant ripped off four-straight points to force a UMBC timeout at the 16:22 mark.
• Rivera finished inside and then Bryant turned a Connor Withers block into two points on the other end. Tyler Brelsford found Timberlake with a pretty feed underneath.
• Bryant's run would hit eight before the Retrievers answered back. Trailing 46-38, UMBC would go on a 14-5 run to take a 52-51 lead at the under-12 media. Marcus Banks would score eight points as UMBC made 6-of-7 from the field.
• The Bulldogs and Retrievers went shot for shot until the under-8 media. SGB and Banks traded layups before Gross-Bullock swished a three in front of his own bench to put Brynat up four.
• Banks answered with a three of his own but Rafael Pinzon knocked down a triple on the next possession to make it 61-57 at the under-8.
• Bryant would outscore UMBC 20-10 over the final eight minutes, making 8-of-13 from the field.
• Doug Edert swished a three from the top and Rivera slammed home a breakway feed from Gross-Bullock to put Bryant up 10, 69-59.
• SGB then made history, driving to the basket for a layup to reach 38 points before hitting a deep three from the top to reach 41.
• Bryant would build the lead to 18 before closing out the 14-point victory.

Stats

• Bryant finished 30-of-67 (44.8 percent) from the field, 10-of-28 (35.7 percent) from three and 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) from the line.
• Bryant held a slim 43-42 edge in rebounding. The Bulldogs held a 34-30 edge in the paint and turned 15 UMBC turnovers into a 19-6 advantage.
• Bryant also blocked 11 shots.
• Gross-Bullock scored 41 points on 16-of-24 shooting from the field. He was 7-of-12 from three and made both his free throws. SGB also added six rebounds, two assists and four steals in a full 40-minute effort.
• Rivera posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He was 6-of-8 from the line and also blocked four shots.
• Timberlake finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks.
• Pinzon and Edert combined for 11 points off the bench.

Game Notes

• Bryant won against UMBC for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs are now 1-2.
• Bryant opened America East play with a win for the second straight year.
• Bryant hit 10+ three-point field goals for the fourth-straight game and for the fifth time in six outings.
• Gross-Bullock's 41 points are the third-most in a single game in DI program history. He joins Charles Pride (44) and Alex Francis (43) as the only three players to reach 40.
• Gross-Bullock scored 30+ points for the second time in his career (both at UMBC) and 40+ points for the first time in his career.
• Gross-Bullock has now scored 41 and 39 in his last two games at UMBC.
• Gross-Bullock posted his sixth 20-point game of the season and the 20th of his career. He has 20+ points in each of his last three. SGB posted his 58th career double-figure scoring game.
• Gross-Bullock tied his career high with seven three-point field goals.
• Gross-Bullock is now averaging 3.5 3pFG per game and is 16-of-29 (55 percent) from three over his last three.
• Gross-Bullock's 16 field goals are tied for the second-most in a single game in DI program history.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 13th time this year and the 40^th time in his career.
• Rivera posted his first-career double-double on Saturday, with 14 and 10.
• Rivera blocked 4+ shots for the fifth time this season.
• Withers now has 12 blocks over his last five games.
• Brelsford finished with three points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in his return to the Baltimore area.

Up Next
Bryant returns to the Chace Athletic Center on Thursday, Jan. 11 to host Binghamton. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.