Bryant, Xavier meet on Black Friday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's basketball team will square off with Big East foe Xavier on Black Friday. Tip is set for 12:00 p.m.

Friday's game will air live on FS1.    

The Particulars
Opponent: Xavier
Location: Cintas Center (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Date and Time: Friday, Nov. 24 - 12:00 PM EST 
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Watch: FS1
Game Notes: Bryant | Xavier
Social Media: Facebook | X | Instagram | #AEMBB

THE SERIES
Bryant and Xavier will be meeting for the first time in program history. It will be Bryant's first game against a Big East opponent since December 2015 when it played Providence. The Bulldogs are 0-9 all-time against Big East foes.  

BRYANT KNOCKS OFF NO. 10 FAU
Bryant pulled off one of the biggest upsets in program history on Saturday night, ending 10th-ranked Florida Atlantic's 19-game home winning streak with a 61-52 victory. The Bulldogs were facing a veteran group that advanced to the 2023 Final Four. Bryant held FAU to just 5-of-30 from three. Sherif Gross-Bullock and Earl Timberlake paced the upset as each finished with a double-double. 

BULLDOGS TAKE DOWN TWO NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS...FACES ANOTHER
With Monday's win over Howard, Bryant has now defeated a pair of teams that qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament, a first in program history. Bryant will face its third-straight NCAA Tournament opponent on Friday. Xavier advanced to the Sweet 16 last season. 

SGB PICKS UP HONORS
Sherif Gross-Bullock was named the America East and Mid-Major Madness Player of the Week earlier this week. SGB averaged 23.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 3.0 apg in Bryant's games vs Boston U and No. 10 FAU. He recorded 28 points on Thursday at BU before posting 19 points and 11 rebounds in the Bulldogs' upset of the Owls.  

TIMBERLAKE LOCKING IN
Earl Timberlake has been a difference maker all over the floor this season, entering Friday averaging 12.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 bpg and 1.3 spg. He posted a season-high 19 points on Monday vs Howard and leads the team with three double-doubles on the year.     

FIVE MORE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Bryant is holding opponents to 35 percent from the field and 29 percent from three. Dig deeper and Bryant is holding teams 39 percent on two-point field goal attempts and 54 percent on in-close attempts, which ranks 42nd nationally (per Haslametrics). 
2. Daniel Rivera enjoyed is best all-around game of the season on Monday vs Howard, finishing with seven points and career-highs in rebounds (13), assists (5) and blocks (4). He is averaging 10.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.33 blocks on the season. 
3. Connor Withers also had his best scoring game of the young season, finishing with 15 against Howard. After starting the year 4-of-17 from three, Withers hit 4-of-5 against the Bison. 
4. Bryant is currently shooting 37 percent from three through six games. It is Bryant's best mark from deep since it made 38 percent of its threes in the abbreviated 2020-21 season.   
5. Rafael Pinzon is one of four Bulldogs to average double-figures this season. He enters Friday with 12.0 ppg off the bench.                               

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