Bulldogs battle at the Chace Wednesday
SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University men's basketball team returns home for just the second time this season to host the seventh edition of this Battle of the Bulldogs. Bryant hosts Ivy League rival Yale Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. in a contest that can be seen live at NECFrontRow.com.
THE SERIES
Wednesday's game marks the seventh-straight season these Bulldog sides have competed, with Bryant winning the most recent matchup last season on the road, 72-64. And while the Black and Gold are the most recent victors, it is Yale who owns the series, leading 4-2 while escaping the Chace Athletic Center with wins in the last two clashes in Smithfield.
SCOUTING THE CONNECTICUT BULLDOGS
Yale has played at an almost frenetic pace since the start of the 2014-15 season, playing its sixth game in the last two weeks alone Wednesday night. Three players average double-figure scoring, led by Javier Duren's 14.1 points per game (33a, 12s). Justin Sears averages 13.8 points per game while leading Yale on the glass with 8.8 boards per outing and has already amassed an impressive 22 blocks on the year. Jack Montague contributes 10.9 points each time out and shoots at a 49.2 percent clip, while Matt Townsend and Sam Downey are the team's most accurate shooters at 54.8 percent. As a team, Yale is converting at a .447 clip and has limited opponents to 61.4 points per game while scoring 73.5 points of their own each contest.
CURRENT BULLDOGS vs. YALE
Eight different Bulldogs have squared off against Yale in their Bryant careers, but only three of them — junior Shane McLaughlin (twice), senior Joe O'Shea (twice) and senior Dyami Starks (twice) — have done so more than once. Starks leads the way, having dropped 22 on Yale in each contest over the last two seasons while shooting 43 percent from the floor and 47 percent (9-19) from long distance. O'Shea averages 7.5 points per game with 4.5 rebounds per outing and a 50 percent clip from the field. Current Bulldogs are shooting a lifetime .444 (24-54) against Yale.
BRYANT vs. THE IVY LEAGUE
Wednesday's matchup marks the first of four contests against members of the Ivy League in 2014-15, including three in the month of December. Bryant is 6-17 against the Ancient Eight in its short Division I history, having matched up against Columbia (0-3), Brown (2-4), Cornell (0-2), Harvard (0-3), Yale (2-4) and Dartmouth (2-1) over the last seven seasons. In the all-time history of the program, the Bulldogs are just 6-24 against Ivy League opponents, most frequently matching up against intrastate rival Brown (2-11). Bryant will face off against Brown (Dec. 9), Dartmouth (Dec. 31) and Harvard (Jan. 20) later this season.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs return to the road but won't have to travel far, heading into the capital city to take on their second-straight Ivy League foe in intrastate rival Brown at the Pizzitola Center Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The contest can be heard live on WOON 1240AM or at bryantbulldogs.com.
WALK THE LINE
Fouling sharpshooting guard Dyami Starks is as good as giving away points in 2014-15. The senior captain has been a guarantee at the free throw line on the young season, making all 13 of his freebie opportunities.
DIALED IN FROM DISTANCE
Bryant senior guard Dyami Starks added to his long list of three-point shooting clinics on Sunday when he nearly rallied the Bulldogs from a 12-point deficit in the final 2 1/2 minutes of a 72-66 loss at Akron. Starks finished with a season-high 25 points, hitting 7-of-15 shots from outside the arc, including three in the final six minutes. Starks surpassed the 20-point mark for the 24th time in his career and first time this season, and his seven 3-pointers tied for the second most he has made in a game (eight vs. Delaware, Dec. 21, 2013). He currently leads the NEC with 18.8 points per game and 4.0 triples per contest.
TICKET TO RIDE
Single-game and season ticket packages are available for the 2014-15 Bryant University men's and women's basketball seasons. Tickets can be purchased online at bryantbulldogs.com/tickets or by calling the Bryant Athletics Ticket Office at 401-319-TIXX.
CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME?
Bryant University Athletics and the Northeast Conference have partnered with Pack Network to create NEC Front Row, the home for all NEC men's and women's basketball broadcasts. NEC Front Row brings viewers an industry-leading video streaming solution for more than 100 Bryant University home contests during the 2014-15 athletic seasons, including live, free-of-charge, high-definition broadcasts of all Bulldog home men's basketball games. Live event productions include multiple camera angles, an on-screen scoreboard, state-of-the-art graphics and brand-new DVR functionality. Visit necfrontrow.com for more information and a schedule of events.
BRYANT HOOPS ON WOON RADIO
For the seventh season, all Bryant University basketball home games and select road contests can be heard LIVE on WOON 1240 AM. Veteran sportscaster Jon Wallach of 98.5 FM The Sports Hub Boston returns to call the action as the voice of the Bulldogs, alongside color analyst Tristan Hobbes.