Bulldogs fall to UMass Lowell on Wednesday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sherif Gross-Bullock posted his third-straight 20-point effort but the Bryant University men's basketball team was unable to complete a second-half comeback, falling to UMass Lowell, 85-71, on Wednesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 16-10 overall and 7-6 in the America East. The Black and Gold have lost back-to-back games.

Gross-Bullock finished with 23 points and added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. Antwan Walker added 11 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Charles Pride added 13 and Miles Latimer contributed 10.

Game Information
UMass Lowell 85, Bryant 71
Records: Bryant 16-10, 7-6 AE | UMass Lowell 21-7, 8-5 AE
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 842

Key Moments

• Clinging to a two-point lead, Ayinde Hikim hit a floater to kick start a 7-0 run for the River Hawks.

How it Happened

• Wednesday saw a slow start for both teams as the Bulldogs got baskets from four different players but trailed 14-8 with 13:00 remaining.
• The River Hawks hit back-to-back threes to make it 22-11 with 9:41 to go in the first half.
• Bryant then rattled off the next five points thanks to a flagrant 1 foul on Max Brooks.
• The River Hawks took a 32-20 lead into the under-4 media timeout.
• Bryant continued to struggle from the field, hitting just 7-of-25 (28.0 percent) from the field and just 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from the line.
• Gross-Bullock hit Bryant's lone three of the first half as the clock ran out, sending the game to the break with the Black and Gold down 12, 37-25.
• Bryant came out of the break hot, starting the half on an 8-0 run. SGB made a floater and then drilled a three from the top. Walker capped the run with an offensive putback to force a UML timeout.
• After UML pushed the lead back to eight, Max Brooks was tagged with his second technical and was ejected from the game. Pride hit a pair of technical free throws and SGB finished at the rack to bring Bryant back to within four, 41-37, with 15:40 to play.
• A Tyler Brelsford three from the wing and an Earl Timberlake finish inside brought Bryant within one, 43-42, with 14:38 left.
• The River Hawks, however, got a big block as Bryant attempted to take the lead and then pushed their lead to 50-44 with 11:45 left.
• Bryant pulled within four again, 52-48, but the River Hawks scored the next five to take a 57-48 lead with 8:32 left.
• The Black and Gold answered as Walker canned two free throws and then finished a floater for four-quick points. Pride then muscled his way to the basket to make it 57-54 with 7:43 left.
• A three-point play from Pride would bring Bryant within two, 65-63, with 4:40 left. SGB once again made it a two-point game moments later, streaking to the rim.
• Hikim, however, hit a floater late in the shot clock to energize UML. The River Hawks got a pair of free throws from Allin Blunt and then Everette Hammond hit a dagger three to make it 74-65 with 2:15 left.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 24-of-57 (42.1 percent) from the field, 3-of-15 (20.0 percent) from three and 20-of-30 (66.7 percent) from the line.
• UML held a slight edge in rebounding, 40-38.
• Bryant finished with just six assists in the game.
• Gross-Bullock scored 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field. He added 10 rebounds for the double-double.
• Walker had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks on the night.
• Pride finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while Latimer posted 10 points and four boards.
• Timberlake added nine points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Game Notes

• Bryant was swept in the season series with UMass Lowell.
• The all-time series between Bryant and UML is now tied at 19-19.
• Bryant falls to 9-3 at the Chace Athletic Center this season.
• Pride now has 1,494 points and 727 rebounds in his career.
• Pride finished in double-digits for the 21^st time this season and the 75^th time his career.
• Gross-Bullock finished in double figures for the 22^nd time this season and the 44^th time in his career.
• Gross-Bullock posted his 10^th 20-point game of the year and the 13^th of his career.
• Gross-Bullock has scored 20+ points in each of his last three games.
• Gross-Bullock posted his second double-double of the season.
• Walker posted his eighth double-double of the year and the 13^th of his career.

Up Next
Bryant is off on Saturday before heading to NJIT next Wednesday, Feb. 22. Tip is set for 7:02 p.m.