Balanced effort lifts Bryant to 70-55 road win at NJIT

NEWARK, N.J. – Earl Timberlake posted his eighth double-double of the year to pace five double-figure scorers as the Bryant University men's basketball team defeated NJIT, 70-55, on Thursday night at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

In posting their seventh win in eight games, the Bulldogs improve to 13-7 overall and 5-0 in America East play. Bryant welcomes Vermont, also 5-0, to the Chace Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon (4pm).

Bryant struggled from the field on Thursday but used a balanced a scoring attack to defeat the Highlanders for the third time in three AE meetings. Timberlake finished with 11 points, 11 rebouds, three assists and two blocks, while Connor Withers (13), Daniel Rivera (11), Sherif Gross-Bullock (10) and Tyler Brelsford (10) all finished in double figures.

Game Information
Bryant 70, NJIT 55
Records: Bryant 13-7, 5-0 AE | NJIT 4-14, 0-6 AE
Location: Wellness and Events Center (Newark, N.J.)
Attendance: 504

Key Moments

• Miles Latimer's offensive putback and eventual three-point play put Bryant ahead for good 11 minutes into the game.

How it Happened

• NJIT was able to grab a 12-9 lead through the first 10 minutes as Bryant started just 3-of-17 from the field.
• The tide turned in Bryant's favor thanks to an offensive putback by Latimer at the 7:59 mark. Latimer's putback gave Bryant a 15-14 lead and he was able to complete the three-point play to start an 8-0 run for the Bulldogs.
• Withers scored the next five points for the Black and Gold, swishing a corner three before knocking down a pair of free throws.
• NJIT would make it a four-point game but Brelsford canned a three from the wing to restore Bryant's seven-point lead.
• Pinzon would then go coast-to-coast with a theft and finish.
• Bryant would get the ball back with under 30 seconds left and Withers was able to hit a three from the top to make it a 10-point game at the break, 31-21.
• The Bulldogs would hold a 40-33 lead at the under-16 of the second half. Gross-Bullock posted his first two baskets of the evening, while Rivera had a major rejection of Kjell de Graaf dunk attempt.
• Rivera then gave Bryant an offensive spark, finishing back-to-back buckets to give Bryant an 11-point lead and force an NJIT timeout at the 13:16 mark.
• The Highlanders would hang around, using a 9-1 run to make it a six-point game, 55-49, with 7:04 to play.
• Withers answered, though, drilling a three from the left wing to end the run and give Bryant the momentum back.
• It was the start of an 8-0 run that allowed the Black and Gold to put the game away.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 27-of-73 (37.0 percent) from the field, 4-of-26 (15.4 percent) from three and 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) from the line.
• Bryant held a 51-49 advantage on the glass.
• Bryant turned the ball over just five times.
• Bryant outscored NJIT 46-18 in the paint.
• The Bulldogs held NJIT to just 29 percent from the field and 5-of-27 from three.
• Withers paced Bryant with 13 points, hitting 3-of-7 from three. He added seven rebounds and two assists
• Timberlake finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. He also had three assists and two blocks.
• Brelsford posted 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists.
• Gross-Bullock finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
• Pinzon (8), Latimer (5) and Keyshawn Mitchell (2) combined for 15 bench points.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 4-1 all-time against NJIT. The Bulldogs have won all three AE regular-season meetings.
• Bryant is 5-0 in league play for the first time since 2012-13 when it started 6-0 in the NEC.
• The Bulldogs are the lone America East team to win four road games so far this season.
• Bryant has now won eight games away from home this season (7 road, 1 neutral).
• Bryant shot a season-low 15 percent from three on Thursday.
• The Bulldogs' five turnvoers were a season low.
• SGB posted his 62nd career double-figure scoring game.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 17th time this year and the 44th time in his career.
• Timberlake notched his eighth double-double of the year and the 17^th of his career.
• Rivera's notched his 14^th double-figure scoring effort of the season.
• Pinzon matched his career-high with five rebounds for the second-straight game.
• Withers finished in double-figures for the seventh time this year and the 37^th time in his career.
• Brelsford scored in double-figures for the seventh time this year and the 17^th time in his career. His five rebounds were a season high.

Up Next
Bryant returns to the Chace Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon to face defending league champion Vermont. Tip is set for 4:02 p.m.