SGB, Bulldogs top UNH Saturday, 87-81

DURHAM, N.H. – Sherif Gross-Bullock scored 28 points and the Bryant University men's basketball team was able to make each of its final eight free throws to hold on for an 87-81 victory over the University of New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Bulldogs have now won back-to-back league games to improve to 3-2 in the America East.

Gross-Bullock finished 9-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc to pace the Black and Gold. Antwan Walker finished with 19 points and five rebounds, while Charles Pride and Tyler Brelsford each finished with 10. Earl Timberlake and Miles Latimer each grabbed 10 boards and added seven points.

Game Information
Bryant 87, New Hampshire 81
Records: Bryant 12-6, 3-2 AE | New Hampshire 8-9, 3-2 AE
Location: Lundholm Gymnasium (Durham, N.H.)
Attendance: 650

Key Moments

• Moments after UNH cut the deficit to one, Walker and Brelsford hit back-to-back baskets to push Bryant's lead back to five with just over three minutes to play.

How it Happened

• Timberlake and Gross-Bullock got Bryant going early, combining for 12 of the teams first 19 points. Timberlake finished at the rim three times, while Gross-Bullock sank a pair of triples.
• UNH pulled withine one with a three but Pride answered with a triple on the other end to make it 22-18 with 11:43 left.
• The Wildcats made it 24-22 but the Bulldogs scored the next six and nine of the next 11. Gross-Bullock was a key cog, finishing twice at the bucket before canning a three from the wing to make it 33-25 with 6:06 remaining in the first.
• Walker put Bryant up 11 at the under-4 media with a pretty finish inside but the Wildcats were able to answer with a three out of the break.
• Bryant, however, answered with a huge effort play. A loose ball led to an eight-player scramble at midcourt and Pride was able to come away with it. He took one dribble before feeding Doug Edert for a wing three to make it 41-30.
• The Bulldogs would take a 44-36 advantage into the locker room.
• Walker got the Bulldogs going in the second half as he stepped out to drill a three.
• Bryant built its lead to nine, 60-51, as Gross-Bullock finished at the rim and Walker completed a three-point play with a huge offensive board and putback.
• Gross-Bullock then banked home a three to make it a 10-point game, 63-53, with 12:04 to play.
• A three-point play by Edert would put Bryant back up by 10 with 9:59 to go but the Wildcats rattled off a 9-2 run to make it a three-point game with 8:08 to go.
• UNH then had a chance at a three to tie it but the shot caromed off. Bryant grabbed the board and pushed up the floor, with Pride sinking a corner three to make it 73-67.
• The momentum continued as Pride fed Gross-Bullock in transition and SGB was able to finish through a block.
• UNH, however, scored the next seven points to make it 75-74 with 4:36 to go.
• Walker quickly answered with a soft floater in the lane and Brelsford was able to convert off a loose ball to make it 79-74.
• UNH would answer with a three to make it a two-point game but the Black and Gold closed it out with eight-straight makes from the charity stripe.

Stats

• Bryant finished 26-of-46 (56.5 percent) from the field, 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from three and 27-of-35 (77.1 percent) from the line.
• Bryant held a 35-25 advantage in rebounds and a 36-32 edge in points in the paint.
• Gross-Bullock was 9-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from three for 28 points. He was also 6-of-7 from the line and added three assists.
• Walker posted 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. He added five boards.
• Pride and Brelsford each finished with 10 points. Pride added four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Latimer and Timberlake each finished with seven points and 10 rebounds. Latimer scored all seven of his points from the line.  

Game Notes

• Bryant and UNH were meeting for the 11^th time in program history and the first as league foes.
• The Bulldogs have won each of the last three meetings and lead the series 7-4.
• Pride now has 1,370 points and 680 rebounds in his career.
• Pride has now scored in double-figures in 68 times in his career.
• Gross-Bullock finished in double-figures for the 16^th time this year and the 38^th time in his career.
• Gross-Bullock posted his sixth 20-point game of the season and the ninth of his career.
• Walker has now scored in double-figures 15 times this year and 37 times in his career.
• Walker is averaging 17.6 ppg and 9.2 rpg in America East play.
• Latimer's 10 rebounds are a season high.

Up Next
The Bulldogs are off until next Thursday, January 19, when they welcome NJIT to the Chace Athletic Center. Tip is set for 7:02 p.m.