Bryant opens NEC play with 101-82 win at St. Francis

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – The Bryant University men's basketball team continued its offensive onslaught on Tuesday night, opening Northeast Conference play with a 101-82 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn at Daniel Lynch '38 Gymnasium.

Bryant received double-digit scoring outputs from five players, including a team-high 19 from reigning NEC Player of the Week Peter Kiss, on its way to scoring 100+ points in back-to-back games for the first time in DI program history. Kiss finished 7-of-15 from the field, 3-of-5 from deep and added six boards, three assists and three steals.

Charles Pride had a dominant outing as well, finishing with 16 points and career-high 17 rebounds for his second-career double-double. Michael Green III and Chris Childs each finished with 17 and Hall Elisias chipped in 10 points, six boards and two blocks. Green III and Luis Hurtado Jr. combined for 12 assists and just three turnovers on the night.  

Game Information
Bryant 101, St. Francis Brooklyn 82
Records: Bryant 3-1 (1-0 NEC), St. Francis Brooklyn 0-1 (0-1 NEC)
Location: Daniel Lynch '38 Gymnasium

Key Moments

• Bryant exploded out of the gates, shooting 55 percent from the field, 7-of-12 from long range, building a 58-38 lead at the half.
• St. Francis Brooklyn made it a 19-point game with 14:56 left in the second half but the Black and Gold responded with a 15-4 run that was capped by a Childs three to put the game away.  

How it Happened

• Bryant started quick with a 6-1 run that forced a St. Francis timeout just under two minutes into the game.
• The early energy was aided by back-to-back threes from Kiss and Childs before the first media timeout.
• Out of the media timeout, the Black and Gold blitzed the Terriers, going on a 13-2 run to build a 25-9 lead.
• The lead hovered around 10 until back-to-back threes from Pride and Kiss helped open a considerable margin.
• Childs would add two more threes as the Black and Gold led by 20 at the half.
• A slow six minutes for Bryant pulled St. Francis Brooklyn within 19 but the 15-4 run quickly turned the tide.
• Green III chipped in six points and trifecta's from Hurtado Jr. and Childs pushed the lead to 30, 81-51, with 12:14 left.
• Hurtado Jr. put Bryant over the 100 point mark with a pair of free throws.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 34-of-75 (45 percent) from the field, 12-of-22 (55 percent) from three and 21-of-28 (75 percent) from the line.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded St. Francis, 54-44.
• Bryant also dished out 20 assists.
• The Bulldogs held St. Francis to 41 percent from the field, 29 percent from three and 54 percent from the line.
• Kiss tied for the game high with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field. He finished 3-of-5 from three and made both foul shots. Kiss also added six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
• Pride posted a double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds. He had seven offensive boards. Pride was 6-of-13 from the field.
• Green III finished with 17 (4-of-14 fg, 8-8 ft), six boards and five assists.
• Childs made 5-of-8 from three to finish with 17 points.
• Elisias had 10 points, six boards and two blocks.
• Hurtado Jr. posted five points, four boards, a game-high seven assists and didn't turn the ball over in 26 minutes.
• Nathaniel Stokes and Erickson Bans came off the bench to combine for 17 points and seven boards. Stokes scored a career-high nine, while Bans finished with eight.

Game Notes

• Bryant has now won back-to-back games at Daniel Lynch '38 Gymnasium after losing each of its first nine games at the venue.
• The Bulldogs have also won three-straight against St. Francis Brooklyn.
• Bryant has now scored 100+ points in each of the last two games, a first in DI program history.
• They are also the first NEC team to post back-to-back games of 100+ points since St. Francis Brooklyn on Feb. 22 and 27, 2003.
• It is the first time since Feb. 14, 2019 that Bryant has scored 100+ points in regulation against a Division I opponent. That was a 105-104 loss to Sacred Heart.
• Bryant has had five or more players score in double figures in all four games this season.
• Bryant has shot over 40 percent in each of the first four games.
• The Black and Gold are averaging 104.0 points per game this season, a number that ranks top five nationally.  
• Kiss has now scored in double figures in all four games and leads the NEC with 18.3 ppg.
• Pride has posted 15+ points and 5+ rebounds in each of the first four games of the season.
• Pride's double-double was the second of his career, while his 17 rebounds were a career high.
• The 17 rebounds are tied for the fourth-most in a single game in DI program history.  
• Elisias blocked two shots and now has 88 in his Bryant career.
• Childs made 5+ threes for the second time this season and is now shooting 14-of-27 (52 percent) from three on the year.
• Green III is now averaging 17.3 ppg and 5.25 assists per game.
• Hurtado Jr. is averaging 5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 4.0 assists per game this year. His seven assists were a career high and he's turned the ball over just four times all year.
• Stokes posted a career-high with nine points.  

Up Next

Bryant and St. Francis Brooklyn wrap up their two-game set on Wednesday afternoon. Tip is set for 4:00 p.m.