Pinzon scores 35 as Bryant advances to AE Semifinals

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Rafael Pinzon scored a career-high 35 points as the third-seeded Bryant men's basketball team defeated sixth-seeded Maine, 84-58, in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Jersey Mike's America East Men's Basketball Playoffs at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the win, the Bulldogs advance to the semifinals and will face second-seeded UMass Lowell on Tuesday night in Lowell. Bryant improves to 20-12 on the season, marking its second 20-win season in DI program history.

Pinzon was locked in on Saturday, finishing with 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the floor and a scorching 6-of-8 from three. Daniel Rivera chipped in his fourth-straight double-double, finishing with 13 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Sherif Gross-Bullock added 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Game Information
No. 3 Bryant 84, No. 6 Maine 58
Records: Bryant 20-12 | Maine 15-17
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 1,147

Key Moments

• After Maine cut the deficit to four to start the second half, Bryant went on a 21-3 run over the next nine minutes to put the game away.

How it Happened

• Maine led 5-2 and 8-4 before the Black and Gold rallied with the three-point field goal.
• Pinzon swished back-to-back threes to give the Bulldogs a 10-8 lead.
• Latimer then joined the party with a corner three in front of the Maine bench to send the game to under-12 tied at 16-16.
• Bryant then opened up the lead as Brelsford knocked down two threes and Pinzon added another, making it 27-18 with 8:59 to play.
• Rivera then converted a three-point play and Pinzon followed with another three to make it 35-20.
• Rivera would add a ferocious dunk later in the half, grabbing an offensive rebound and slamming it down one-handed.
• Two free throws from Gross-Bullock would give Bryant a 47-36 lead at the break.
• The Black Bears came out of the break hot, cutting the Bryant lead to just four before Pinzon answered.
• Pinzon finished an offensive rebound to halt the Maine run, igniting a 21-3 run over the next eight minutes.
• Doug Edert's line three of the game came in front of the Bryant bench with 11:27 remaining, pushing Bryant's lead to 14, 60-46.
• Gross-Bullock then went to work, finishing two beautiful drives at the rim. After making his first, Gross-Bullock dribbled behind his back and through his legs before hesitating past his defender and finishing with his right. That basket gave Bryant a 20-point lead.
• Threes from Connor Withers and Pinzon then put the finishing touches on the night for Bryant.

Stats

• Bryant finished the game 32-of-55 (58.2 percent) from the field, 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from three and 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) from the line.
• The Bulldogs held a 41-29 (+18) on the glass.
• Bryant posted 17 assists, six steals and six blocks.
• Pinzon finished with 35 on 14-of-20 shooting from the field. He was 6-of-8 from three.
• Rivera had 13 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
• Gross-Bullock added 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
• Brelsford collected nine points and four boards.

Game Notes

• Bryant won two-of-three meetings with Maine this season and now owns a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series. The home team has won all five games.
• The Bulldogs notched their 20^th victory of the season, joining the 2021-22 team as the only ones to win 20+ games at the DI level.
• Saturday's win was Bryant's first postseason win as an America East member.
• Bryant will compete in a conference semifinal game for the fourth time in program history. The Bulldogs are 2-1 in their previous three semifinals.
• Bryant improved to 11-3 at home this season and 44-9 at home since the start of the 2020-21 season.
• Pinzon's 35 points are a career high and the most by a Bulldog in a playoff game in DI program history.
• Pinzon also set a career high with six made three-point field goals.
• Rivera posted his fourth-straight double-double. He now has eight double-doubles on the year. Saturday was his 22^nd double-figure game of the season.
• Rivera is now averaging 20.3 ppg and 13.5 rpg over his last four.
• Gross-Bullock is now averaging 4.0 apg over his last four.

Up Next
Bryant will face second-seeded UMass Lowell on Tuesday night in the semifinal round of the 2024 Jersey Mike's America East Men's Basketball Playoffs. Tip is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell.