Bryant takes down Howard, 67-61, Monday night

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Earl Timberlake posted 19 points and Daniel Rivera finished with seven points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks as the Bryant University men's basketball team downed Howard, 67-61 on Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 3-3 on the season and are now 2-1 at home. Bryant returns to the court Friday afternoon at Xavier (12pm | FS1).

Timberlake made his first eight shots, finishing 8-of-12 from the field for a season-high 19 points. He added five boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Rivera was also over the stat sheet with seven points, 13 boards, five assists and four blocks in a career-high 35 minutes. Connor Withers added 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three, while Sherif Gross-Bullock had nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and just turnovers in 36 minutes.

Game Information
Bryant 67, Howard 61
Records: Bryant 3-3 | Howard 2-4
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 754

Key Moments

• Gross-Bullock drove baseline and finished a two-handed slam to put an end to a 14-0 Bison run in the second half.

How it Happened

• Bryant came out of the gates hot, hitting five of its first six shots, collecting five assists in the process.
• Withers and Tyler Breslford each hit triples and Timberlake posted six early to give Bryant a 13-3 lead at the under-16 media.
• Howard would cut the deficit to four before a corner three from Doug Edert and a triple from the top by Withers restablished an eight-point cushion, 24-16.
• Bryant would push its lead to as much as 12 before Howard pulled with seven at the under-4 media.
• The Bison would pull within four before a barrage allowed the Bulldogs to finish the half on an 8-0 run for a 36-24 lead. Withers injected life with a pair of threes, including one with under 15 seconds left, while Timberlake capped an impressive half with his fifth bucket without a miss.
• Withers started strong in the second half as well, finishing a two-handed flush off a perfect feed from Tyler Brelsford in transition.
• Rivera then found Timberlake underneath the hoop for a pair of baskets to extend Bryant's lead to 46-30.
• Bryant's second half lead was balloon to 18 before the Bison made a run. Howard would go on a 14-0 run to make it 56-52 with 8:30 left.
• Gross-Bullock was able to stop the run with a two-handed slam, giving Bryant a six-point edge at the under-8 media.
• The Bison would trim the Bryant lead to four on multiple occasions in the final six minutes.
• Bryant would lead, 61-57, with 2:45 left in the game.
• Out of the timeout, Bryant would get a stop and Pinzon would drain a foul-line jumper to push the lead back to six.
• The Bulldogs would then hold on for the victory.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 25-of-56 (44.6 percent) from the field, 8-of-23 (34.8 percent) from three and 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) from the line.
• Howard earned a 44-38 advantage on the glass.
• Bryant collected 15 assists and also blocked six shots.
• Timberlake finished 8-of-12 from the field for 19 points. He added five boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
• Withers posted 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He was 4-of-5 from three.
• Rivera had seven points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.
• Gross-Bullock finished with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
• Edert, Rafael Pinzon and Miles Latimer combined for 12 points off the bench.  

Game Notes

• Bryant and Howard were meeting for the first time in program history.
• Bryant is now 35-7 at home since the start of the 2020-21 season.
• Gross-Bullock finished with a season-high five assists.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the fourth time this season and the 31^st time in his career.
• Timberlake's 19 points were a season high.
• Withers finished in double figures for the second time this season and the 32^nd time in his career.
• Withers hit as many as four threes in a game January 5, 2023 vs Maine when he was at UMass Lowell.
• Rivera posted career-highs in rebounds (13), assists (5) and blocks (4).

Up Next
Bryant travels to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a Black Friday matchup with Xavier. Tip is set for 12:00 p.m. on FS1.