SMITHFIELD, RI -- John Williams (Springfield, Mass.) scored a game-high 30 points to lead the Bryant men's basketball team to a 68-56 Northeast-10 Conference win over Franklin Pierce Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center. Bryant, with the win, improves to 13-6 overall and 9-6 in the NE-10.
Williams and the Bulldogs opened the game strong, racing out to a 11-2 lead just three minutes into the game. Williams had nine of Bryant's first eleven points in the game and tallied 21 in the first half as the junior drained five first-half 3-pointers sending the Bulldogs into the locker room leading, 42-24 at the break.
In the second half, the Bryant continued to stay comfortably in front the rest of the way as a lay-up from John Williams gave Bryant it's largest lead of the night, 57-32 midway through the second half and senior center Mike Williams (Ellington, Conn.) would follow with a dunk minutes later and the Bulldogs cruised would cruise. John Williams finished the night shooting 11 for 17 from the floor and 6-of-11 from three-point range. He was only three points shy of matching his career high of 33 points set against Pace earlier this season.
Mitchell Johnson paced Franklin Pierce (6-14, 4-11 NE-10) with 14 points as the Ravens finished the game shooting 35.8 percent from the floor in the game. Bryant shot 48.1 percent from the floor but turned the ball over 15 times in the game, 12 coming in the second half.
The Bulldogs made 10 three-point field goals all together in the game, marking the eighth time this season Bryant has made at least 10 three’s in a game. While the Bulldogs played well inside as well with Mike Williams picking up three of Bryant’s five blocks in the game and grabbing six rebounds in the process. Dan Hammond and Mario Correia each added five rebounds with Hammond also adding four steals in the game.
Bryant will travel to UMass Lowell on Wednesday before returning home to host Southern N.H. next Saturday.