Bryant earns hard-fought victory, 70-69, at Binghamton

VESTAL, N.Y. – Earl Timberlake posted his third-straight 20-point effort to lead the Bryant University men's basketball team to a scrappy 70-69 victory over Binghamton on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 16-9 overall and 8-2 in the America East. Bryant returns to the Chace Athletic Center for a pair of games this week and will play four of its final six games at home.

Timberlake led the way on Saturday as Bryant won in Vestal for the first time at the DI level. He finished with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting and added eight rebounds. Tyler Brelsford added 14 and Rafael Pinzon posted 10 to give Bryant three in double figures.

Game Information
Bryant 70, Binghamton 69
Records: Bryant 16-9, 8-2 AE | Binghamton 11-12, 3-7 AE
Location: Dr. Bai Lee Court (Vestal, N.Y.)
Attendance:

Key Moments

• Bryant opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take its first lead of the afternoon. Pinzon then sank a pull up jumper with 12:47 left to give Bryant the lead for good.

How it Happened

• Binghamton was able to start the game with a 10-2 run, holding Brynat to just 1-of-6 from the field to start.
• A three from Gavin Walsh gave Binghamton a 18-7 lead with 12:38 left. He was hit with a celebration technical, however, and Bryant was able to chip away.
• Doug Edert sank both free throws and Timberlake finished an and-one to make it 18-12 with 10:00 to play.
• The Bearcats would extend the lead back to nine before Brelsford swished back-to-back threes with 4:00 remaining.
• Bryant would pull within one, 25-26, on a Sherif Gross-Bullock layup but the Bearcats closed the half with the final four points. Walsh ended the half with a runner at the buzzer.
• The Black and Gold started the second half with an 8-2 run to take their first lead of the afternoon. Trailing by seven, Gross-Bullock drove to the basket and finished through contact for a three-point play.
• Brelsford then drilled his third three of the afternoon from the wing to bring Bryant within a point. Moments later, Gross-Bullock grabbed a miss and raced down the floor, finishing with a flourish to give Bryant a 33-32 lead.
• Timberlake kept the run going, pushing Bryant's lead to five, 37-32, with back-to-back tough buckets. He finished through contact with a post move and then hit a hook shot on the next possession.
• Binghamton was able to answer, taking a 38-37 lead, following a technical foul on Bryant. After making 1-of-2 technical free throws, Dan Petcash swished a three.
• Bryant retook the lead as Rafael Pinzon sank a jumper from 18 feet. On the next possession, Rivera blocked a shot to Brelsford and Brelsford was able to finish on the other end to make it 41-38 with 11:50 left.
• Rivera then took over for Bryant, knocking down a pair of free throws before catching a lob inside and finishing at the rim, giving the Bulldogs a 51-43 and forcing a Binghamton timeout with 7:35 left.
• Pinzon's turnaround jumper in the lane gave the Black and Gold a 60-52 lead with 4:09 left.
• Binghamton kept the game within two possessions down the stretch but the Bulldogs made 8-of-9 from the line in the final minute to hold off the Bearcats.  

Stats

• Bryant finished 23-of-54 (42.6 percent) from the field, 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) from three and 19-of-31 (61.3 percent) from the line.
• Binghamton held a 47-30 advantage on the glass.
• Bryant forced 17 Binghamton turnovers and held the Bearcats to just 20 made field goals.
• Timberlake finished with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. He posted eight rebounds.
• Brelsford notched 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three.
• Pinzon added 10 points.
• Rivera chipped in nine points and eight rebounds.

Game Notes

• Bryant swept the season series from Binghamton, winning in Vestal for the first time in DI program history. Bryant is now 4-2 all-time against the Bearcats.
• The win was Bryant's fifth league win of the year and its eighth road win.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 22nd time this year and the 49th time in his career.
• Timberlake posted his third straight 20-point game and his fourth of the season.
• Brelsford scored in double figures for the eighth time this year and the 18^th time in his career.
• Pinzon was in double figures for the 16^th time this year and the 23^rd time in his career.

Up Next
Bryant returns to the Chace Athletic Center for a pair of games this week, hosting Maine (Thursday) and UMass Lowell (Saturday). Tip is set for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.