Edert scores 23 as Bryant downs Detroit Mercy, 98-88

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Bryant University men's basketball team hit 16 three pointers, including seven by Doug Edert, on its way to a 98-88 victory over Detroit Mercy on Monday afternoon in the final game of the Paradise Invitational at Florida Atlantic University.

Bryant's 16 three pointers were one shy of its program record against a Division I opponent, while its 25 assists were the most in a game in DI program history. The Bulldogs finished their three-game trip to Florida with a 2-1 record.

Edert paced the Bryant offense with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc. Earl Timberlake added 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Antwan Walker posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. Sherif Gross-Bullock (16 pts, 8 assists) and Charles Pride (13 pts) also finished in double figures.

Game Information
Bryant 98, Detroit Mercy 88
Records: Bryant 4-1 | Detroit Mercy 2-3
Location: FAU Arena (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Attendance: 150

Key Moments

• Moments after Detroit Mercy erased an 11-point Bryant lead, Edert fed Timberlake down low and Timberlake was able to finish through the harm for an and-1. Bryant never trailed again.

How it Happened

• The first half featured an impressive showing by both Bryant and Detroit Mercy. The Bulldogs went 12-of-19 from three, while the Titans made 12-of-16.
• Gross-Bullock opened the scoring with a wing three.
• The teams then began trading threes as nine-straight baskets were three-point shots.
• Detroit took a 19-12 lead following a four-point play from Jayden Stone.
• Bryant tied the game as Edert canned a pair of technical free throws and then sank a corner three.
• Four consecutive three pointers resulted in a 29-29 tie before Walker gave Bryant a 31-29 with a layup at the 9:50 mark.
• Trifectas from Gross-Bullock and Edert pushed the lead to six and Gross-Bullock gave Bryant its largest lead of nine with 3:41 to go.
• The Titans were able to hit two free throws at the end of the half to make it a one-point game.
• A pair of threes from Edert and Pride sparked the Bulldogs, while a transition alley-oop from Gross-Bullock to Timberlake gave Bryant a 68-59 lead 3:30 into the second half.
• Edert then hit a catch-and-shoot three from the wing to give the Bulldogs a 76-64 lead with 12:41 to go.
• A pair of free throws from Pride made it 82-71 with 8:25 left but the Titans reeled off a 13-2 run, tying the game at 84-84 on a Damezi Anderson putback with 4:59 to go.
• On Bryant's next possession, Edert came to a jump stop in the lane and fed Timberlake underneath and he was able to lay it home while being fouled. Timberlake canned the free throw and Bryant led, 87-84.
• A wild sequence followed as the Bulldogs turned the Titans over at midcourt. Kvonn Cramer dove on the loose ball, fired it ahead and eventually Miles Latimer finished in transition to make it a five-point game.
• Timberlake hit all four free throws down the stretch and Walker added five points down the stretch to close it out.

Stats

• Bryant finished 33-of-64 (51.6 percent) from the field, 16-of-31 (51.6 percent) from three and 16-of-21 (76.2 percent) from the line.
• The Bulldogs held a 39-26 advantage in rebounds.
• Bryant also had a 32-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 23-6 advantage in second chance points thanks to 18 offensive rebounds.
• Bryant finished the game with 25 assists and just nine turnovers.
• Edert led the Bulldogs with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting from three. He added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Timberlake tied his career high with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting. He added six rebounds and five assists.
• Walker posted his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He was 5-of-10 from the field.
• Gross-Bullock had 16 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
• Pride posted 13 points, hitting 3-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Game Notes

• Bryant and Detroit Mercy were meeting for the first time in program history.
• Bryant's 25 assists are the most in a game in DI program history.
• Bryant's 16 three pointers are the second-most in a single game against a DI opponent in program history (17 at Monmouth).
• Edert's 23 points are a season high, while his seven three pointers tie a career-high.
• Pride finished in double-figures for the 58^th time in his 88-game career.
• Pride now has 1,191 points and 609 rebounds in his career. He also now has 193 career assists.
• Walker scored in double-figures for the third consecutive game and for the fourth time this season.
• Walker's double-double was the first of the year and the sixth of his career.
• Walker averaged 14.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg and shot 56 percent from the field in three games this weekend.
• Timberlake matched his career-high with 19 points. He finished the three-game Florida trip averaging 15.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 4.3 apg.
• Gross-Bullock has scored in double digits in all five games and is averaging 18.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 5.2 apg.     

Up Next
The Bulldogs head to Syracuse, N.Y., on Saturday, November 26 to face the Orange. Tip is set for 4:00 p.m. at the JMA Wireless Dome.