Bulldogs cruise in final warmup, 98-59, over Acadia

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Picking up right where it left off last March, the Bryant University men's basketball team was impressive in its final exhibition game of the season, topping Acadia, 98-59, Sunday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

After getting off to a quick start the Black and Gold never looked back, pouring in 51 first-half points, on 15-of-30 shooting. The second half brought more of the same as Bryant outscored the Axemen, 47-38, in the final 20 minutes of play to cruise to a convincing victory.

Junior Dyami Starks (Duluth, Minn.) led all scorers with 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, while senior forward Alex Francis (Harlem, N.Y.) put up 14 points and five rebounds in the win. Freshmen Bosko Kostur (Melbournce, Australia) was solid in his Chace Athletic Center debut, recording 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds in 25 minutes of play.

Junior Joe O'Shea (Burlington, Vt.) and senior Tim McKinney (Duxbury, Mass.) each added 10 points and four boards to round out the double-digit scorers for Bryant.

Owen Klassen and Anthony Sears led the Axemen with 12 points apiece, while Klassen's 19 rebounds was a game high. Ashe Anthony added 10 points and six boards in 30 minutes for Acadia.

The Bulldogs finished 26-of-59 from the field for 44 percent, compared to Acadia's 27 percent shooting, but the Axemen outrebounded the hosts, 53-47.

The Bulldogs, who finished last season with a Division I program record 19 wins, open their 2013-14 regular season schedule at #15/14 Gonzaga, Saturday afternoon in Spokane, Wash. Tip is set for 7 p.m. EST.