Bryant, Vermont square off on ESPNU Thursday night in Burlington

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's basketball team travels to Burlington, Vermont, on Thursday to face preseason favorite University of Vermont in a nationally-televised game. Tip is set for 7:01 and the game will air on ESPNU.

Thursday's game is a rare matchup of league champions from a season ago as the Bulldogs are the defending Northeast Conference champs, while the Catamounts are the defending America East champs.

The Particulars
Opponent: Vermont
Location: Patrick Gymnasium (Burlington, Vt.)
Date and Time: Thursday, Jan. 5 - 7:01 PM EST 
Live Stats: Sidearm
Watch: ESPNU
Game Notes: Bryant | Vermont
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #12Seven4 | #AEMBB

THE SERIES
Bryant and Vermont will be meeting for the third time ever and for the first time as league opponents. The Bulldogs and Catamounts split a pair of games in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Bryant earned an 87-64 victory at home in the first meeting before the Catamounts returned the favor the following year in Burlington, 73-47.    

WELCOME TO THE AMERICA EAST
Saturday's game vs Binghamton marked Bryant's first America East game. The Bulldogs spent the previous 13 years in the Northeast Conference (09/10-21/22).

GROSS-BULLOCK NAMED AMERICA EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sherif Gross-Bullock picked up America East Player of the Week honors after posting 29 points and six rebounds in Saturday's win over Binghamton. Gross-Bullock also tied his career high with five three-point field goals. He enters Thursday's game at Vermont with a league-best 17.0 ppg. 

FIVE MORE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Bryant is 10-4 overall following an 82-78 victory over Binghamton last Saturday at home. The Bulldogs have won 10+ games in each of the last five years (a first in DI program history).    
2. Led by Gross-Bullock, the Black and Gold feature four the top 12 scorers in the America East entering Thursday. Ear Timberlake (3rd), Charles Pride (6th) and Antwan Walker (12th) are all averaging over 13.0 ppg.
3. Timberlake has produced 12 double-figure scoring games this season and is also third in the league in rebounds with 8.1. He is coming off a double-double of 16 pts and 11 reb vs Binghamton, his fourth double-double of the season.  
4. Charles Pride enters league play with 1,307 career points. He is averaging 14.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg this season. 
5. Vermont and Bryant were picked 1-2 in the America East preseason poll. The Catamounts have won nine America East Championships in the last 20 years, including 2022 and 2020.                        

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