Bulldogs fall, 79-72, at Maine on Saturday

ORONO, Maine – The Bryant University men's basketball team fell to Maine, 79-72, on Saturday afternoon at The Pit at Memorial Gym.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 14-9 overall and 6-2 in the America East. Bryant returns to the Chace Athletic Center next Thursday (Feb. 8) to face New Hampshire.

Bryant led by as much as 13 in the first half but a 12-0 run early in the second half pushed the Black Bears to victory. Earl Timberlake led Bryant with a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Sherif Gross-Bullock added 17 points.

Game Information
Maine 79, Bryant 72
Records: Bryant 14-9, 6-2 AE | Maine 11-12, 3-5 AE
Location: The Pit (Orono, Maine)
Attendance: 700

Key Moments

• The Black Bears used a 12-0 run early in the second half to take a lead that they would not relinquish on Saturday.

How it Happened

• The Bulldogs used crisp passing to grab an early 12-6 lead at the first media timeout. Daniel Rivera found Connor Withers on the wing for a three to make it 7-5 and Brelsford made a great feed to Timberlake under the hoop on the following possession.
• Gross-Bullock would sink his first three of the afternoon to make it 12-6.
• Bryant used the ball movement to start 7-of-10 from the field while collecting six assists.
• The Bulldogs were also able to hold Maine to a 4-of-16 start from the field, building an 18-10 lead.
• Bryant extended the lead as Rivera raced up the floor and dribbled behind his back before throwing it down with two hands.
• The Black and Gold would then force a Maine timeout as Timberlake hit Gross-Bullock with a full court pass to give Bryant a 26-14 lead.
• Maine found its footing heading into the under-four media, going on an 11-0 run to make it 27-25 with 4:00 to play.
• The Black Bears were eventually able to take a brief lead, 31-29, but Bryant quickly responded.
• Rivera and Timberlake each finished at the rim to make it 33-31 with 33.7 seconds left.
• Timberlake would convert at shot clock buzzer with 11 seconds to before Maine netted a bucket with three seconds left to make it 35-33 in favor of the Bulldogs.
• Bryant would build a five-point lead, 45-41, early in the second half but the Black Bears hit a three and then turned a turnover into a finish on the other end to make it 46-45 at the 14:11 mark.
• The run would hit 12-0 as the Black Bears grabbed an eight-point lead, 53-45, lead with 12:30 to play.
• A Withers basket would briefly end the run but a three on the other end made it 56-47 in favor of Maine with 11:45 left.
• Bryant would answer with the next seven to make it a three-point game. Edert hit a three from the wing before a Gross-Bullock bucket made it a three-point game.
• The Black Bears would take a 63-58 lead into the under-8 media.
• Bryant would get to within twice as Timberlake finished through contact but couldn't finish the three-point play. Gross-Bullock would then can a pair of free throws to make it 64-65.
• A big dunk from the Black Bears would make it 67-64 with 3:41 to play.
• The Black Bears were then able to hold off Bryant to close out the 79-72 victory.

Stats

• Bryant finished 27-of-58 (46.6 percent) from the field, 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from three and 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) from the line.
• Maine held a 35-32 advantage on the glass.
• Bryant posted 18 assists on 27 made baskets.
• The Bulldogs tied their season high with 16 turnovers.
• Timberlake finished with 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting. He added 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
• Gross-Bullock posted 17 points.
• Pinzon and Edert combined for 16 points off the bench. Pinzon added five assists.
• Withers chipped in eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Game Notes

• Maine now owns a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. The Black Bears have won both meetings in Orono.
• Bryant lost when leading at the half for just the second time this season.
• SGB posted his 65^th career double-figure scoring game.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 20th time this year and the 47th time in his career.
• Timberlake posted his second 20-point game of the season.
• The double-double was Timberlake's ninth of the season and the 18^th of his career.
• Edert is now just two points shy of 1,000 for his career.

Up Next
Bryant returns to the Chace Athletic Center on Thursday (Feb. 8) to face New Hampshire. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.