Pride scores DI program record 44 as Bryant downs SFU

LORETTO, Pa. – Charles Pride scored a DI single-game program record 44 points to lead the Bryant University men's basketball team to an 89-82 victory over Saint Francis U in Loretto on Thursday night.

With the win, the Bulldogs have now won seven-straight games and are 10-1 in Northeast Conference play. Bryant also won its second-straight game at DeGol Arena for the first time since it won on back-to-back trips on Jan. 31, 2009 and Feb. 5, 2011.

Pride was the story on Thursday night, though. The junior from Syracuse broke Alex Francis' previous record of 43 with one of the gutsiest performances in recent memory. Pride made 16-of-26 from the field and made 11 of his free throws in the historic performance. Remarkably, Pride made just one three pointer. He also added 12 rebounds and four steals in 38 minutes.

Adham Eleeda chipped in five threes and 17 points, Greg Calixte had nine points and 10 boards and Erickson Bans had nine points and seven boards. Luis Hurtado Jr. dished out eight assists.   

Game Information
Bryant 89, Saint Francis U 82
Records: Bryant 13-8, 10-1 NEC | SFU 7-15, 3-8 NEC
Location: DeGol Arena (Loretto, Pa.)
Attendance:

Key Moments

• Trailing 78-77 with 2:22 left, Pride took over. He scored the final 14 points of the game for the Bulldogs, hitting all eight of his free throws down the stretch.                

How it Happened

• The two teams combined to go 13-of-26 from beyond the arc in an entertaining first half.
• Eleeda posted Bryant's first points with a catch-and-shoot three from the top. He would go on to make five in the first half and post 15 points.
• Josh Ozabor banked one off the glass to make it 12-11 with 12:44 to go.
• Eleeda's third triple of the game tied things at 16-all and Pride followed with back-to-back coast-to-coast buckets to give Bryant a four-point edge.
• Eleeda and Bans then hit triples to give the Bulldogs a 29-24 lead with 7:14 to go.
• SFU took a late lead with back-to-back threes of its own.
• Eleeda's fifth three of the game, in transition, gave Bryant a 38-35 lead and the Bulldogs would take a 38-37 lead to the break.
• The teams traded blows to open the second half. Bans converted a three-point play and Pride posted nine points in the first four minutes to give Bryant a 52-44 lead with 16:09 to go.
• Pride then pushed the lead to 10, 54-44, with a layup at the 15:54 mark.
• The Red Flash, however, outscored the Black and Gold 21-10 over the next six minutes to take a 65-64 lead with 8:42 remaining.
• SFU would eventually build a 76-70 lead on a Luke Ruggery three with 4:58 to go.
• Pride would answer with a layup and three free throws made it 76-75 in favor of SFU with 4:01 to go.
• After that, it was the Charles Pride show. Pride's second-straight layup gave him 34 points and the Bulldogs a 79-78 lead with 2:00 remaining.
• Bans then won a jump ball for the Black and Gold and Pride finished again to make it 81-78 with 1:09 to go.
• Pride would then can eight-straight free throws to close out the game and break the single-game scoring record.

Stats

• Bryant finished 32-of-68 (47.1 percent) from the field, 8-of-26 (30.8 percent) from three and 17-of-21 (81.0 percent) from the line.
• Bryant outrebounded SFU, 47-39.
• Bryant finished with a 48-28 advantage in the paint.
• Pride scored 44 points on 16-of-26 shooting from the field. He was 11-of-11 from the line. Pride added 12 rebonds, four steals and two assists.
• Eleeda scored 17 points, making five threes. He also had nine boards and two assists.
• Calixte posted nine points, 10 rebounds and two steals.
• Bans contributed nine points and seven boards.
• Hurtado had five points and eight assists in 35 minutes.    

Game Notes

• Bryant has now won three-straight against the Red Flash for the first time since winning three-straight from Jan. 15, 2013-Jan. 19, 2014.
• The Bulldogs have won back-to-back games in Loretto since 2011.  
• Bryant swept the season series with the Red Flash for the first time since 2013.
• Bryant is now 10-1 in league play, it's best start since joining the NEC in 2008-09.
• Pride's 44 points are the most by a Bulldog in DI program history. The previous record of 43 was set by Alex Francis vs LIU on Feb. 24, 2011.
• Obviously, the 44 points are a career-high for Pride. They are the 11th-most in a single-game in program history.
• The 16 made field goals are the second-most in DI program history and the 26 field goal attempts are tied for second-most.
• Pride is the first Bulldog since Nisre Zouzoua to make as many as 11 free throws without a miss. Zouzoua made all 12 free throws vs. St. Francis Brooklyn on Dec. 29, 2016.
• Pride now has 45 career double-digit scoring efforts.
• Pride now has 890 career points, tying him with Bosko Kostur for 10th in DI program history.
• Pride also posted his seventh double-double of the year and the 13th of his career.
• Eleeda made three or more three-pointers for the 10th time in his last 12 games.
• Calixte finished with double-digit rebounds for the second-straight game and the third time this year.
• Hurtado Jr. has 48 assists and just 16 turnovers in NEC play.    

Up Next
Bryant wraps up the weekend on Saturday against Mount St. Mary's. Tip is set for 4:02 p.m. on ESPN3.