Bryant downs Fisher on opening night

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The run-and-gun Bulldogs are back. On Tuesday night, Bryant men's basketball returned to the Chace Athletic Center and provided the 1,250 fans in attendance with another edition of their up-tempo offense, dowing NAIA member Fisher, 122-54.

Bryant finished the game with 33 assists on 49 made field goals to win its first season opener in the Jared Grasso era. Charles Pride led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Tyler Brelsford shined in his Bryant debut, posting 21 points, 11 assists and five rebounds.

The Black and Gold had five finish in double figures, with Erickson Bans posting 13, Adham Eleeda with 11 and Greg Calixte with 15. Eleeda and Calixte were also making their Bryant debuts. Luis Hurtado Jr. led Bryant with 12 rebounds and chipped in seven assists, while Hall Elisias blocked six shots.

Game Information
Bryant 122, Fisher 54
Records: Bryant 1-0 | Fisher 0-1
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 1,250

Key Moments

• Fisher hung around early but back-to-back threes from Pride and Eleeda broke a 15-15 tie and Bryant never looked back.    

How it Happened

• Fisher grabbed an early 10-8 lead on a three from Goddy Marc at the 16:24 mark.
• A Brelsford layup and a Pride three would give Bryant the lead back, but the Bulldogs would gain full control when Pride and Eleeda hit back-to-back threes.
• The two trifectas made it 23-15 with 13:10 to go in the half and started a 39-16 run to close the first half. Bryant would make 12-of-24 from the field, including 8-of-14 from two-point range.
• Pride led Bryant with 14 points and eight boards at the break.
• Brelsford then helped the Black and Gold put the game away with 10 points in the first nine minutes as Bryant opened the half canning 16-of-22 from the field.
• An alley-oop from Bans to Elisias put Bryant at the century mark and brought much of Bryant's bench into the game. Josh Ozabor played the final seven minutes, posting eight points and two boards.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 49-of-85 (.576) from the field, 11-of-32 (.344) from three and 13-of-18 (.722) from the line.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded and undersized Fisher, 70-37.
• Bryant posted 33 assists on 49 made field goals.
• Pride posted a double-double with 25 points and 11 boards. He added a couple of assists in 29 minutes.
• Brelsford poured in 21 points and dished out 11 assists for a double-double. He added five boards and turned the ball over just twice in 24 minutes.
• Hurtado Jr. filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven assists and 12 boards in 25 minutes.
• Bans also had an all-around game, posting 13 points, four boards, four assists and two steals.
• Eleeda made 3-of-8 from beyond the arc and added seven rebounds.
• Calixte 15 points (6-of-7 shooting), six rebounds and blocked three shots.
• Elisias finished with nine points, seven rebounds and six blocks.
• Grant Coleman chipped in nine points, three rebounds and four assists.   

Game Notes

• Bryant won its season opener for the first time under Jared Grasso.
• The Bulldogs scored 100+ points for the third time in the last two seasons.
• Pride has now scored 33 and 25 in his last two appearances at the Chace Athletic Center.
• Pride also posted his seventh-career double-double.
• Brelsford posted his first-career double-double.
• Elisias blocked at least six shots for the seventh time in his career.   

Up Next
Bryant travels to Kingston on Friday night to face Rhode Island in the regional round of The Sunshine Slam. Tip is set for 6:00 p.m.