Rivera's career-high lifts Bryant over UNH, 89-74

DURHAM, N.H. – Daniel Rivera scored a career-high 25 points to lead five Bulldogs in double-figures as the Bryant University men's basketball team earned an 89-74 victory over New Hampshire on Saturday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 11-7 overall and 3-0 in America East play. Bryant has won five of its last six games.

Rivera continued his torrid stretch with 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field, finishing a rebound shy of his third-straight double-double. Sherif Gross-Bullock added 21 for his fifth-straight 20-point effort and Earl Timberlake notched his league-leading seventh double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Rafael Pinzon (13) and Connor Withers (10) also finished in double figures.

Game Information
Bryant 89, New Hampshire 74
Records: Bryant 11-7, 3-0 AE | New Hampshire 9-7, 1-2 AE
Location: Lundholm Gymnasium (Durham, N.H.)
Attendance: 800

Key Moments

• Bryant opened the second half with a 12-2 run and never looked back.

How it Happened

• The teams traded 8-0 runs in a fast-paced first five minutes. UNH struck first, hitting a pair of early threes.
• Bryant then used its defense to answer with an 8-0 run of its own before the under-16 media. Pinzon finished a beautiful pass from Rivera in transition, Withers finished a turnover at the other end and Rivera tied the game with a bucket inside.
• The Bulldogs would eventually stretch their run to 13. Gross-Bullock drilled a deep three to give Bryant it's first lead and Rivera finished inside to make it 13-8.
• UNH was able to answer before the under-12, going on a 8-2 run to grab a 16-15 lead. Naim Miller's second three of the evening game the Wildcats the lead.
• Ahmad Robinson would then swish a three at the 10:37 mark to give UNH a 19-15 lead.
• Bryant would respond with a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 27-19 lead. Withers started and ended the run with triples from the top. The run ended as SGB stole the ball and Bryant quickly moved up court. Rivera eventually found Withers who swished a three, forcing a UNH timeout.
• The Wildcats would respond out of the timeout, tying the game at 32-32 at the under-4 media timeout.
• Bryant would outscore UNH 12-8 over the final 3:45 to take a four-point lead to the break. Doug Edert drilled a three off a beautiful inbounds play to make it 40-36. After UNH hit a three with eight seconds left, Rivera went end-to-end to beat the buzzer and give Bryant a 44-40 lead at the break.
• The Black and Gold expanded their lead to eight early in the second half, forcing a UNH timeout. Withers and Timberlake both finished hook shots, while Rivera rocked the roof with a two-handed slam.
• Bryant's lead would grow to 12 as Rivera crept toward 20 points with two finishes off great feeds inside. The Bulldogs would take a 56-47 lead to the under-16.
• Rivera would finish off a pair of baskets at the rim before assisting on a deep three from Gross-Bullock to give Bryant a 65-51 lead with 12:12 left.
• Gross-Bullock and Pinzon then took over in a five-minute stretch, combining for 16 of Bryant's 18 points. Pinzon would hit a three to start the stretch and Gross-Bullock did the rest, drilling a trio of threes to make it 89-74 with 3:54 left.

Stats

• Bryant finished 35-of-65 (53.8 percent) from the field, 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) from three and 10-of-13 (76.9 percent) from the line.
• Bryant held a 38-34 advantage on the glass and outscored UNH 46-30 in the paint.
• The Bulldogs picked up 18 assists.
• Rivera finished with 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting. He added nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
• Gross-Bullock hit 5-of-9 from three to finish with 21 points.
• Timberlake picked up a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. He added four assists.
• Pinzon went 6-of-12 from the field to finish with 13 points off the bench.
• Withers chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 9-5 all-time against UNH. The Bulldogs are 4-4 at Lundholm Gymnasium.
• Bryant is 3-0 in league play for the first time since 2012-13 when it started 6-0 in the NEC.
• The Bulldogs are the lone America East team to win two road games so far this season.
• Gross-Bullock posted his fifth-straight 20-point effort. He now has eight 20-point games this season and 22 in his career. SGB posted his 60th career double-figure scoring game.
• Timberlake's double-double was his league-leading seventh of the year.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 15th time this year and the 42nd time in his career.
• Rivera's 25 points are a new career high. It marks his second 20-point game of the season.
• Rivera also set career highs in field goals made with 11.
• Rivera's notched his 12^th double-figure scoring effort of the season.
• Rivera is averaging 17.0 ppg and 10.3 rpg in three America East games.
• Pinzon finished in double figures for the 13^th time this season and the 20^th time in his career.
• Withers was in double figures for the sixth time this year and the 36^th time in his career.

Up Next
Bryant will have a week off before it takes the court at UAlbany next Saturday night.