Ware sets new career mark, Bulldogs fall at Michigan, 96-60, Wednesday

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Sophomore guard Hunter Ware (Powder Springs, Ga.) scored a career-high and game-best 26 points while tying his career mark with six made triples, but the Bryant University men's basketball team fell to the University of Michigan, 96-60, Wednesday at the Crisler Center.

Ware's 26 points came off 9-for-19 shooting from the floor and a 6-for-15 mark from beyond the arc, while rookie Marcel Pettway (North Providence, R.I.) tied his personal best with 15 points off 6-for-7 shooting from the field.

As a team, the Bulldogs (2-10) shot 48.9 percent from the floor while going 8-of-22 from beyond the arc, getting eight more points from both frosh Nisre Zouzoua (Brockton, Mass.) and junior Dan Garvin (Bethel, Conn.). Senior point guard Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, N.J.) dished out a game-high eight assists.

The Wolverines (10-3) were paced by 19 points from Caris LeVert, who went 8-for-14 from the field and 3-for-7 from deep. Zak Irvin (16 points), Duncan Robinson (12), Derrick Walton Jr. (11) and Aubrey Dawkins (10) all finished in double figures for the home side as well, as Michigan shot an impressive 48.6 percent (17-35) from downtown. Eight different Wolverines converted at least one long ball, paced by a 4-for-8 mark from Robinson.

LeVert doled out eight dimes for the home team, as Michigan outrebounded the Black and Gold, 33-22. The Wolverines shot 58.7 percent on the contest, going 37-for-63 from the field.

The Bulldogs hung with Michigan through the opening minutes thanks mostly to a pair of threes from Ware, who would also contribute a layup for eight of the team's first 10 points. Ware's lay-in at the 16:27 mark tied the contest at 10-10, but the Wolverines would score the next seven straight for a 17-10 advantage.

Ware remained hot from 3-point land, making his third of the first seven minutes to end the Michigan stretch, and Pettway would score his first four points – including a dunk with 12:33 on the clock – to close the gap to 22-17.

But consecutive threes from Robinson and LeVert would put Michigan up by 10, 31-21, with 8:49 remaining, and the home side would continue to extend its lead – mostly from beyond the arc – from there, taking a 41-25 edge with just more than six to play.

The Wolverines would continue to drain threes in the final minutes, finishing the frame 12-for-20 from distance to secure a 57-35 halftime lead despite strong shooting from the Bulldogs as well. The Black and Gold shot 59.1 percent from the floor in the stanza behind a 15-point effort from Ware and perfect 5-for-5 shooting from Pettway, as the duo combined for 27 of the team's 35 points. Michigan would hit at a 65.6 percent clip in the opening 20 minutes, adding just nine baskets from inside the arc.

It took nearly two minutes for either side to get on the board in the second, but Irvin would add to the hosts' lead with a long jumper. Michigan would outscore Bryant, 11-3, to open the stanza, taking a 68-38 advantage five minutes in.

Ware would hit his fourth trey of the contest at the 14:05 mark to draw the deficit to 68-42, but Michigan would quickly get hot again from deep, restoring a 30-point lead, 76-46, midway through the frame.

The Bulldogs would finish the half shooting 40 percent from the floor while Michigan converted at a 51.6 percent clip in the second stanza en route to the 96-60 final margin.

The Bulldogs return to the hardwood for their final non-conference matchup of the season Dec. 31, traveling to Hanover, N.H., to take on Dartmouth in a 2:00 p.m. New Year's Eve contest.