Bryant downs Nichols Monday night

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Playing in front of a boisterous crowd of 1,400, the Bryant University men's basketball returned to the Chace Athletic Center with a 107-71 victory over Nichols in an exhibition game on Monday night.

Junior Charles Pride highlighted the night for the Black and Gold, finishing with a double-double of 29 points and 11 rebounds. Pride hit 6-of-11 shots from downtown and committed just one turnover in 33 minutes. Sophomore Erickson Bans scored 19, senior Chris Childs had 13 and senior Hall Elisias and sophomore Tyler Brelsford each had 11 to give the Bulldogs five players in double-figures. 

Game Information
Bryant 107, Nichols 71
Records: Exhibition
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

Key Moments

• Pride hit four consecutive threes in the final 2:27 of the first half to turn a 12 point lead into a 20 point lead at the break.    

How it Happened

• Nichols grabbed an early 12-8 lead behind a three from Jaekwon Spencer four minutes into the first half. 
• Bryant rallied back and took the lead for good on an alley-oop from Pride to grad student Greg Calixte.
• Fellow grad student Adham Eleeda followed with a three and Bryant was off and running.
• Bryant's lead grew to double-figures but the Bison cut it to 12 with 2:43 left. Pride, however, took over. He drilled a quartet of threes from varying distances to excite the home crowd.
• Bans and Brelsford then paced a dominant second half from the Bulldogs. Bans scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting and Brelsford added 11 on three field goals and five free throws. 

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 35-of-78 (.449) from the field, 11-of-32 (.344) from three and 26-of-38 (.684) from the line.
• The Bulldogs posted 21 assists and turned the ball over 14 times.
• Pride posted a double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds. He was 10-of-18 from the field and 6-of-11 from three.
• Bans finished 7-of-12 from the field and added five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
• Childs scored 13 points.
• Brelsford 11 points.
• Elisias finished with 11 points, six rebounds and five blocks in 17 minutes.
• Calixte registered eight points, six boards and three blocks.
• Luis Hurtado Jr. posted three points, seven assists and seven rebounds.  

Game Notes

• Bryant and Nichols were meeting for the first time since the 1977-78 season.
• Pride has now scored 33 and 29 in his last two games at the Chace Athletic Center.

Up Next
Bryant opens its season in two weeks when it hosts NAIA Fisher at the Chace Athletic Center. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.