Bryant continues road trip Saturday at Stony Brook

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's basketball team continues its five-game road trip on Saturday when it faces Stony Brook on Long Island. Tip is set for 6:31 p.m.     

The Particulars
Opponent: Stony Brook
Location: Island Federal Arena (Stony Brook, N.Y.)
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 9 - 6:31 PM EST 
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Watch: FloSports
Game Notes: Bryant | Stony Brook
Social Media: Facebook | X | Instagram | #AEMBB

THE SERIES
Bryant and Stony Brook are meeting for the fourth-straight season. The Bulldogs have won two of the three meetings, including a 79-60 victory last season in Smithfield. Sherif Gross-Bullock posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in the contest. SBU's lone win in the DI series came in 2021, 86-78, on Long Island.     

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. 

DEFENSIVE LOCKDOWN
Bryant earned a 67-51 victory over Siena on Dec. 6, limiting the Saints to just 19 field goals and a 1-of-17 mark from three. The Bulldogs have now allowed less than 70 points in six of their eight games against DI opponents. Bryant currently ranks 10th nationally in field goal percentage defense (37.1) and 39th in three-point field goal percentage defense.  

BLOCK PARTY
Bryant enters Saturday ranked 4th nationally with 7.1 blocks per game. The Bulldogs have blocked 6+ shots in all but two games this season. Bryant set a DI single-game program record with 13 blocks at Siena. 

LONG ISLAND CONNECTIONS
Bryant's trip to Long Island this weekend will be a homecoming of sorts for several Bulldogs. Miles Latimer started his career at Stony Brook, playing two seasons for the Seawolves and earning America East All-Rookie honors. Rafael Pinzon played in high school at Long Island Lutheran before starting his collegiate career at St. John's. Bryant also features locals Todd Rochelle (Queens, N.Y.), Timmy Kiggins (Westbury, N.Y.), Greg Cantwell (Mineola, N.Y.) and Aaron Davis (Bay Shore, N.Y.).

FIVE MORE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Bryant has limited six of its eight Division I opponents to less than 70 points. Bryant is 4-2 in those games and 12-4 in those games over the last two years.  
2. Sherif Gross-Bullock is averaging a team-best 17.6 ppg. He has scored in double-figures in all but one game this season.   
3. Earl Timberlake has done a little bit of everything this year, entering Saturday averaging 11.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 4.2 apg and 1.8 bpg. He has five games with 10+ rebounds and has flirted with a triple-double on two occasions. Timberlake has collected nine blocks over the last two games, posting a career-high five at Brown.   
4. Daniel Rivera is coming off one of the best all-around performances in DI program history. He finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and six blocks, becoming just the 19th player in DI to accomplish that stat line since the 2010-2011 season.   
5. Connor Withers is averaging 6.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.9 bpg and 1.2 spg. He's averaging 9.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.8 apg and 2.3 spg over the last four games vs DI opponents. Bryant is 3-1 in those contests.                                

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