Bryant Suffers First Loss of America East Play

The Bryant basketball team erased a 13-point second-half deficit but UAlbany answered with an 8-0 run and held on for a 68-63 victory over the Bulldogs on Thursday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 14-10 overall and 8-1 in America East play. It snaps Bryant’s eight-game winning streak to start league play and is the Bulldogs third home loss of the year. Bryant returns to the court on Saturday when it travels to Binghamton.

Connor Withers led four players in double figures with 17, while Earl Timberlake added 13 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Barry Evans chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Jakai Robinson had 10 points and seven boards. Keyshawn Mitchell led all players with 11 rebounds.

Game Information
UAlbany 68, Bryant 63
Records: Bryant 14-10, 8-1 | UAlbany 12-12, 4-5
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 1022

Key Moments
Moments after taking a 53-52 lead, the Bulldogs missed three putback opportunities to take a three-point lead. UAlbany was able to gather the rebound following the third miss and scored to start an decisive 8-0 run.
How it Happened
Timberlake opened the scoring for Bryant, finishing at the rim off a gorgeous dish from Withers.
Bryant’s defense followed with a hot start, blocking four shots in the opening six minutes. Withers blocked three of those shots.
Evans helped stake Bryant to an early lead as he grabbed a rebound and finished on the other end before drilling a corner three.
The Bulldogs held a 12-11 edge at the under-12 media.
Kheni Briggs’ first three of the night gave the Great Danes a 14-12 right out of the meida. It was UAlbany’s first lead of the night.
The Great Danes would push their lead to eight, 21-13, on a three from Byron Joshua with 9:27 left in the first half.
Kacper Klaczek answered a Withers three with a three of his own and DeMarr Langford Jr. finished in transition to give UAlbany a 26-16 lead with 6:12 left in the first half.
The Great Danes lead would reach 12, 31-19, at the under-4 media. UAlbany took advantage of an uncharacteristic 12 Bryant turnovers.
Bryant came out of the under-4 media with a 7-0 sparked by a strong finish from Timberlake. A miss on the free throw was cleaned up by Cramer who finished.
Withers then hit a transition three to pull the Bulldogs within five, 31-26.
UAlbany, however, answered with a 10-2 run to close the half up 41-28.
The Great Danes would maintain a 13-point edge before the Black and Gold made a run. Evans canned two free throws to make it a 10-point game and Robinson threw down a monstrous left-handed slam to make it eight.
A three from Timberlake brought Bryant to within five and a Withers floater made it a three-point game (51-48) with 10:49 left.
Bryant would once again make it a one-possession game as Mitchell finished a second chance basket with 8:36 left.
Withers would then push Bryant back in front as he took a handoff from Timberlake and hit a fadeaway three from in front of the Bryant bench with 8:00 left. The three, his fourth of the game, gave the Bulldogs a 53-52 lead.
Bryant had three chances to push its lead to three but couldn’t convert. The Great Danes took advantage, scoring the next six points to take a 58-53 lead with 5:43 left.
The run would go to eight and give the Great Danes a seven-point edge, 5:05 left.
The game would then settle between three and five points, with a smooth Timberlake finish pulling Bryant within three, 66-63, with 41.4 seconds left.
Bryant then forced a UAlbany turnover on the ensuing inbounds and called time with 32.8 seconds left.
The Bulldogs would miss a three-point attempt with 6.6 seconds left and the Great Danes would put it away at the line.
Stats
Bryant finished the game 23-of-62 (37.1 percent) from the field, 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from three and 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) from the line.
UAlbany held a 43-39 advantage on the glass and forced Bryant into 17 turnovers, it’s most in a conference game this year.
Bryant blocked 15 shots but was outscored 40-32 in the paint.
Withers led Bryant with 17 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three. He added five assists and four blocks.
Timberlake posted 13 points (6-15 FG), six boards, two assists and five blocks.
Evans collected 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Robinson notched 10 points and seven boards.
Mitchell finished with seven points, 11 boards and two blocks.
Byron Joshua led UAlbany with 22 points.
Game Notes
Bryant falls to 5-4 all-time against UAlbany. The Bulldogs had a five-game winning streak snapped against the Great Danes.
The Bulldogs fall to 6-3 at home this season.
Thursday marked Bryant’s first conference loss of the year. The Bulldogs’ eight-game winning streak was its longest since they won nine consecutive games in 2021-22.
Bryant set a program record with 15 blocks. The Bulldogs broke the previous record of 13 set last season vs UAlbany.
The 15 blocks are the most in game in the NCAA this season.
Timberlake matched his career high with five blocks.
Timberlake finished in double-figures for the 20th time this season and the 73rd time in his career.
Timberlake moved within four rebounds of becoming the fourth player in DI program history to record 700+ career rebounds.
Withers finished in double figures for the 13th time this year and the 53rd time in his career.
Withers is now averaging a league-best 3.3 3pFG/game in America East play.
Evans finished in double figures for the 19th time this year and the 21st time in his career.
Robinson posted his fifth double-digit effort of the year.
Mitchell has now recorded double-digit rebounds in five games this year.
Up Next
Bryant closes out the week Saturday afternoon at Binghamton. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m. in Vestal, N.Y.