BRYANT THRILLS IN PRESEASON EXHIBITION, DEFEATS CONCORDIA (CAN.), 88-55, FRIDAY NIGHT
October 30, 2009
BRYANT THRILLS IN PRESEASON EXHIBITION, DEFEATS CONCORDIA (CAN.), 88-55, FRIDAY NIGHT
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University men's basketball team gave fans a taste what to expect in the upcoming 2009-10 season in Friday night's exhibition against Concordia (Can.), topping the Stingers, 88-55, at the Chace Athletic Center.
Three Bulldogs scored in double digits, led by 18 points from freshman Raphael Jordan (Bel Air, Md.) on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 16 from fellow rookie Vlad Kondratyev (Gainesville, Fla.), who didn't miss from the floor or the line all night. Senior Cecil Gresham (Bloomfield, Conn.), Bryant's leading scorer from a year ago, collected 12 points with a game-high eight rebounds.
Bryant took a 45-28 lead over Concordia (5-4) after the first 20 minutes of action and outscored the Stingers by 16 in the second frame for the 88-55 final.
The Bulldogs saw 10 players record at least two points as well as the debuts of five rookies and touted transfer Papa Lo (Thies, Senegal), who added six points and three rebounds. Two of those newcomers, Kondratyev and Claybrin McMath (Adelaide, Australia), starred in two of the most exciting plays of the night, both throwing down earth-shattering dunks in the second half to add to the home side's lead.
On the night, Bryant shot 69.4 percent (34-of-49) with a 52.6 percent clip from beyond the 3-point line. The Bulldogs were 10-for-17 from the free throw line. Concordia hit at a 34.5 percent mark on 20-of-58 shooting but got slightly more success from long range (37.5 percent).
Bryant opens its 2009-10 regular season Friday, Nov. 13 when they take on Providence College at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in the World Vision Invitational.