Bulldogs fall to #17/15 UConn, 66-53, despite halftime lead in season debut

STORRS, Conn. – Despite a 34-28 halftime lead, the Bryant University men's basketball team could not complete the upset over reigning national champion UConn Friday night, falling to the No. 17/15 Huskies, 66-53, at Gampel Pavilion in the 2014-15 season opener.

Senior guard Dyami Starks (Duluth, Minn.) led the Bulldogs (0-1) with 18 points, adding six rebounds and a pair of steals. Sophomore forward Dan Garvin (Bethel, Conn.) was the only other Bryant player to finish in double figures, scoring 10 points with six boards and two blocks. Ryan Boatright paced the contest with 24 points for the Huskies (1-0), adding eight rebounds, four steals and a perfect 7-for-7 mark from the free throw line.

The Bulldogs kept it close through the opening seven minutes of the contest, trailing by no more than four thanks in part to seven UConn fouls over the first seven minutes. But nine-straight points for the hosts more than doubled up visiting Bryant by the 11-minute mark, 19-8.

A triple from Garvin nearing the midway point of the half sprung a Bulldog run, though, as the Black and Gold outscored UConn, 20-2, over the next six minutes, taking over a lead they would keep for the remainder of the half to shock Gampel Pavilion with the lead at the intermission.

Garvin's trifecta was followed by the first collegiate basket from rookie starting forward Gus Riley (Nelson, New Zealand) (9 points) as well as back-to-back treys from senior Joe O'Shea (Burlington, Vt.) and Starks, the latter of which tied the score at 19-19 with 7:22 left on the first-half clock. A steal and breakaway layup from Starks gave the Bulldogs a 21-19 edge seconds later, but Bryant wasn't done.

Riley got back on the board and Starks knocked down another deep three for a 26-19 lead to wrap up an 18-0 run with 5:49 remaining in the half. The streak forced two UConn timeouts.

The sides traded baskets from there, and while UConn would make up some ground with three minutes left in the frame, 30-27, Bryant scored four of the final five points – including the final basket of the half when Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, N.J.) drove the lane for an easy layup – to take a 34-28 advantage into the break.

But in the second, the Bulldogs couldn't keep a lid on Boatright, who exploded for 16 points in the final 20 minutes, leading the Huskies to a 38-19 second-half margin.

UConn made up its halftime deficit quickly, tying the game at 43-43 eight minutes in. The Huskies took back the lead just minutes later on a layup from Boatright, but the Bulldogs continued to battle, getting a pair of Starks free throws to knot the score at 45-45 with under 10 to play.

Bryant would remain within striking distance with 6:19 left in the contest, trailing by just five, 52-47, but a dunk from Kentan Facey (11 rebounds) and the first three of the game by Sam Cassell Jr. vaulted UConn's lead to double digits, 57-47, with 4:11 to go.

The sides stayed nearly equal through the final minutes, with Riley capping off the scoring for both sides with 24 seconds remaining for the 66-53 final.

Bryant shot 33.9 percent in the contest and was held to just 26.9 percent shooting in the second frame after converting at a 40 percent clip the opening stanza. And while the Bulldogs' hands cooled off after the intermission, the Huskies' hands got hot, going 14-for-22 in the second half (63.6 percent) to make the difference in the tilt. UConn shot 46.3 percent for the game.

The hosts outrebounded the Black and Gold, 39-31, and scored 17 points off just 10 Bryant turnovers. The Bulldogs also forced 10 Husky errors, while the home side benefited from six blocks, including five from Amidah Brimah (12 points).

Friday's opener also saw the Bryant debuts of junior transfer Zach Chionuma (Jamesville, N.Y.) (2 points) and rookie guard Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, Ga.) (4 points, 1 steal), who will both continue to play a major role for the Bulldogs this season.

The showing sets the Bulldogs up well for their next matchup, Thursday night's 7:00 p.m. home opener against the University of New Hampshire at the Chace Athletic Center.