Bulldogs fall to Brown, 69-62 Saturday

PROVIDENCE, RI – Dyami Starks (Duluth, Minn.) scored a team-high 16 points while freshman Gus Riley (Nelson, New Zealand) and Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, Ga.) each added a career-best 11 points, but it was not enough as the visiting Bryant University men's basketball team came up just short, falling 69-62 at Brown University Saturday night at the Pizzitola Center. 

With the loss, Bryant falls to 1-5 on the season, while Brown, which got a game-high 20 points from Cedric Kuakumensah, improves to 4-6.

Excellent defensive play inside by Dan Garvin (Bethel, Conn.) led to several baskets in transition for the Bulldogs at the other end. Garvin tallied a career-best five blocks in the game, all of which came in the first half, surpassing his previous high of four set last year against Saint Francis (Pa.).

A huge block by the 6-6 sophomore on Dockery Walker led to a layup at the by Ware, giving Bryant a 19-15 lead midway through the opening half.

On Bryant's next possession, Starks drew a foul while attempting a 3-pointer and converted all three free throws to make it 22-17 Bryant. A three from the top of the key by Riley put the Bulldogs in front, 25-19 with 7:17 left in the half.

But the Bears closed out the half with a strong run to take a 41-30 lead into the locker room at the break.

In the second half, a pair of free throws from Brown's Steven Spieth in the early minutes helped put Brown up 50-35, but the Bulldogs would come right back. A basket and free throw from Garvin followed by a Joe O'Shea (Burlington, Vt.) basket underneath helped get the Bulldogs back to within 54-42 with 11:52 left.

After a layup by Ware, Starks buried a deep three from the right side, beating the shot clock and Bryant was back within seven, 55-48.

With the Bulldogs in foul trouble, Andrew Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) came off the bench and helped give the Bulldogs valuable minutes inside. Scocca's put-back on a Garvin miss helped pull the Bulldogs to within 55-50 with 7:21 left to play.

Bryant made it a five-point game once again after a nice drive and basket in the lane by Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, N.J.) with 18 seconds remaining.  But two free throws by Brown's Tavon Blackmon sealed the win for the Bears.

Riley added eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end to go with his 11 points while Ware finished the night shooting 5-of-11 from the floor and handing out three assists plus two steals in 29 minutes.

Bryant will travel to Army on Tuesday for a 7 pm tip. The game will be carried live on WOON 1240 AM.