Bulldogs fall to Wright State in the NCAA First Four

DAYTON, Ohio – The Bryant University men's basketball team saw its season come to a close on Wednesday night with a 93-82 loss to Wright State in the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship First Four at UD Arena.

With the loss, the Bulldogs' season comes to a close with a record of 22-10. The 22 wins are a DI program record, while Bryant also claimed its first-ever Northeast Conference Regular-Season and Tournament titles.

On Wednesday, Kiss scored 28 points, while Luis Hurtado Jr. had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Tyler Brelsford chipped in 12 points, Charles Pride had eight points and eight boards and Adham Eleeda had nine points and seven rebounds.

Game Information
Wright State 93, Bryant 82
Records: Bryant 22-10 | Wright State 22-13
Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Attendance: 9,999

Key Moments

• After Bryant closed the deficit to five with 13:19 to go, Wright State went on a 15-4 run to open a 16-point lead with 6:48 remaining.

How it Happened

• Bryant got off to a 5-0 lead thanks to transition buckets from Hurtado and Kiss.
• Wright State, however, scored the next nine to take a 9-5 lead with 14:48 to go in the first half.
• The Raiders would built their lead to six, 17-11, with 9:51 to.
• Bryant would use a pair of threes and a three-point play to tie the game at 22-22 with 7:03 to go. Brelsford converted a three-point play, while Kiss and Eleeda each hit a three.
• Bryant would grab a brief lead as Eleeda swished a corner three to make it 29-28 with 5:26 left.
• Wright State, however, answered with a three to go on a quick 7-0 run to give the Raiders a 35-29 lead with 3:52 to go.
• Bryant would battle the rest of the way, pulling within two as Eleeda canned all three free throws after being fouled.
• Kiss' driving layup with three seconds left sent Bryant to the half down by two, 44-42.
• Bryant opened the second half with an electrifying alley-oop from Kiss to Elisias to tie the score.
• WSU, however, answered with a 10-2 run and led 56-50 at the first media timeout.
• Bryant would get within five 62-57, before the Raiders rattled off a 15-4 run to take a 77-61 lead with 6:48 to play.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 31-of-71 (43.7 percent) from the field, 4-of-24 (16.7 percent) from three and 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) from the line.
• The Bulldogs were outrebounded, 44-34, and Wright State made 26-of-32 free throws.
• Bryant finished with 48 points in the paint.
• Kiss scored 28 points on 11-of-25 shooting from the field. He added four rebounds and two assists.
• Hurtado posted 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
• Pride posted eight points and eight rebounds.
• Brelsford finished with 12 points, making all 8-of-9 free throws.
• Eleeda finished nine points and seven rebounds before fouling out.
• Elisias posted eight points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Game Notes

• Bryant was playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I program.  
• Kiss posted his 46th double-figure scoring game in 49 outings as a Bulldog.
• Kiss leads the nation in scoring with 25.2 points per game.
• Kiss now has 680 points this season, the fourth-most all-time.
• Pride now has 273 rebounds this season, the second-most in DI program history.