Bulldogs fall to UMBC on Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Antwan Walker posted his second-straight double-double but the Bryant University men's basketball team fell to UMBC, 81-73, on Sunday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

The loss snaps Bryant's 17-game home winning streak against league opponents. Bryant has lost back-to-back league games for the first time since 2020.

Walker finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while Sherif Gross-Bullock added 18 points and nine rebounds. Charles Pride was the third Bulldog in double-figures with 14.

Game Information
UMBC 81, Bryant 73
Records: Bryant 10-6, 1-2 AE | UMBC 11-6, 2-1 AE
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 750

Key Moments

• Bryant made it 72-71 with 3:02 left but the Retrievers closed the game on a 9-2 run to hold on for the victory.

How it Happened

• The teams traded the lead early in a fast-paced game that went the first 8:31 without a whistle.
• Gross-Bullock and Walker hit back-to-back threes to give the Bulldogs a 11-10 lead and Gross-Bullock canned a free throw to tie it 14-14.
• The Retrievers would take the lead and stay ahead despite a pair of great finishes from Brelsford.
• Brelsford's basket with 4:35 left cut the deficit to two, 26-24, but the Bulldogs would go scoreless for the next three minutes as the Retrievers built a nine-point edge.
• Walker sparked the Black and Gold late, completing a three-point play in transition before hitting a three as the first-half horn sounded.
• UMBC took a 35-30 lead into the break.
• Bryant pulled within two on multiple occasions early in the second half but Jacob Boonyasith hit four critical trifectas to keep the Retrievers ahead.
• Dion Browns' three-point field goal with 4:13 left gave UMBC a 72-65 lead.
• Baskets from Gross-Bullock and Earl Timberlake brought Bryant within three, 72-69, with 3:25 left.
• Gross-Bullock then canned two free throws to make it 72-71 with 3:02  left.
• Bryant was able to get a shot at taking the lead but a miss and an offensive rebound on the other end for UMBC led to a pair of free throws.
• After a missed Bryant three, the Retrievers got a three from Matteo Picarelli with a 1:00 left to make it a six-point game.
• The Retrievers were able to hang on the rest of the way.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 27-of-62 (43.5 percent) from the field, 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from three and 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the line.
• UMBC held a 38-36 advantage in rebounds.
• Bryant finished with a 40-30 advantage in the paint.
• UMBC made 6-of-13 threes in the second half.
• Walker posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double. He added three assists and three blocks.
• Gross-Bullock posted 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. He posted nine rebounds.
• Pride posted 14 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three. All three of his triples came in the second half.
• Timberlake finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
• Chauncey Hawkins IV made his first start of the year and posted four points, five assists and didn't turn the ball over in a season-high 32 minutes.

Game Notes

• Bryant and UMBC were meeting for the first time since 1980 and for the first time as Division I opponents.
• The Bulldogs lost their first home game against a league opponent in 17 tries. It is the first time Bryant has lost consecutive league games for the first time since 2020.
• Pride now has 1,332 points and 671 rebounds in his career.
• Pride has now scored in double-figures in 66 times in his career.
• Gross-Bullock has now scored in double figures in 15 of 16 games this season. It marks his 38^th-career double-digit effort.
• Walker finished with his fifth double-double of the year and the 10th of his career.
• Walker has posted double-doubles in back-to-back games.
• Hawkins' posted a season-high five assists on the afternoon.

Up Next
The Bulldogs are back on the court Wednesday when they host UAlbany at the Chace Athletic Center. Tip is set for 7:02 p.m.