Gross-Bullock scores 35 as Bryant outlasts UMBC, 99-95

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sherif Gross-Bullock scored 35 points and the Bryant University men's basketball team earned a 99-95 victory over UMBC on Thursday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the victory, the Bulldogs are now 14-8 overall and 6-1 in the America East. Bryant will wrap up the weekend on Saturday at Maine.

Gross-Bullock continued his torrid stretch against UMBC, scoring 30+ points for third-consecutive game against the Retrievers. He finished 11-of-14 from the field and 7-of-9 from three. Rafael Pinzon added 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Daniel Rivera added a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Earl Timberlake chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Game Information
Bryant 99, UMBC 95
Records: Bryant 14-8, 6-1 AE | UMBC 6-16, 1-6 AE
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 972

Key Moments

• Gross-Bullock and Pinzon each hit big threes late, but Timberlake finally closed the door on the Retrievers with a breakaway slam with under 20 seconds to play.

How it Happened

• Both teams came out of the gates scorching from the field.
• Bryant grabbed an early lead behind five points from Gross-Bullock but threes from Marcus Banks and Dion Brown gave the Retrievers a 8-7 lead.
• Gross-Bullock would then drill a pretty step-back three to make it 12-8 and Rivera followed with a two-handed slam.
• Edert would then hit pair of threes, the second from 28 feet, to give Bryant a 28-22 lead with 10:29 to play in the half.
• UMBC would score the next seven, taking the lead on a three from Banks.
• Gross-Bullock would give Bryant the lead right back, drilling a three from in front of the UMBC bench while taking contact. The four-point play would give Bryant a 34-31 lead.
• UMBC answered again, building a four-point lead, 45-41, before Gross-Bullock and Pinzon shot Bryant back in front.
• Pinzon gave Bryant a 46-45 lead with a three from the corner and SGB finished a turnover with a incredible finger roll at the other end. SGB then swished a three off an inbounds to make it 51-45.
• Bryant led 53-47 heading into the break but UMBC would score the first seven points of the second half to take a 54-53 lead.
• The Bulldogs were able to get back in front as Pinzon hit a smooth baseline jumper and Rivera finished a turnover with a thunderous one-handed slam on the other end.
• UMBC would once again take the lead but five-straight points from Gross-Bullock gave the Black and Gold a 66-62 lead.
• Bryant would carry a 68-64 lead into the under-12.
• Connor Withers would give Bryant a 77-74 lead into the under-8 with an offensive putback.
• UMBC would take the lead back behind five-straight points from Banks, his three from the top making it 80-79 with 5:45 left.
• The Retrievers would make it 82-79 with 5:00 left before Bryant regained the lead. Rivera finished at the rim and Gross-Bullock swished his seventh three from the wing to make it 84-82.
• UMBC would take an 88-87 lead but Timberlake finished down lown to give Bryant the lead back with 2:04 left.
• Pinzon then nailed a three from the wing to push Bryant's lead to four, 92-88, with 1:27 left.
• Bryant would build a six-point edge with under a minute to go but four quick points from Brown made it a two-point game, 94-92, with 25.4 seconds left.
• Brown would hit a three from the top to make it 96-95 but Gross-Bullock was able to hit Timberlake with a football-style pass and Timberlake flushed it at the other end to make it 98-95.
• Bryant then forced a tieup and gained possession, clinching the game at the line.

Stats

• Bryant finished 36-of-65 (55.4 percent) from the field, 11-of-25 (44.0 percent) from three and 16-of-25 (64.0 percent) from the line.
• UMBC held a 37-33 advantage on the glass.
• Bryant turned UMBC 13 turnovers into 20 points.
• The Bulldogs picked up 20 assists and turned the ball over 11 times.
• Gross-Bullock finished with 35 points on 11-of-14 shooting. He was 7-of-9 from three. SGB added seven rebounds in 38 minutes.
• Pinzon added 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
• Rivera finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
• Timberlake chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
• Edert posted eight points and four rebounds.

Game Notes

• Bryant swept the season series from UMBC and evened the all-time series at 2-2.
• Bryant finished with 11 three-point field goals after going just 6-of-39 from three in two games last week.
• SGB posted his 64^th career double-figure scoring game.
• Gross-Bullock posted his 10^th 20-point game of the season and the 24^th of his career.
• SGB hit seven threes after going 0-for-8 in two games last week. The seven threes tie his career high.
• SGB has now scored 39, 41 and 35 in his last three games vs UMBC.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 19th time this year and the 46th time in his career.
• Pinzon finished in double figures for the 16^th time this season and the 23^rd time in his career.
• Rivera posted double-figures for the 15^th time this season.
• Rivera's double-double was his third of the season.
• Timberlake posted 7+ assists for the fourth time this season.

Up Next
Bryant heads to Maine on Saturday to face the Black Bears. Tip is set for 3:00 p.m.