Bryant Survives UMBC To Reach 11-1 in America East Play

Rafael Pinzon scored 17 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, while Earl Timberlake and Keyshawn Mitchell each posted double-doubles as the Bryant men’s basketball team withstood a UMBC rally to earn an 81-79 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 17-10 overall and 11-1 in America East play. The Black and Gold now hit the road for a key three-game stretch that starts Thursday (Feb. 20) at Vermont.

On Saturday, UMBC used a 16-0 run spanning the first and second half to erase Bryant’s 14-point lead. The trio of Pinzon, Timberlake and Mitchell, however, steadied and then rallied the Bulldogs. Mitchell provided the final separation, scoring four-straight points to break a 75-75 tie with 2:45 left in the game.

Pinzon finished with 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field and a 5-of-13 mark from three. Timberlake posted 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for his 11th double-double, while Mitchell finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Barry Evans was the fourth Bulldog in double figures, closing with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Game Information
Bryant 81, UMBC 79
Records: Bryant 17-10, 11-1 | UMBC 12-15, 4-8
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 891

Key Moments
Mitchell swished two free throws and then finished a pick-and-roll to break a 75-75 tie with under 3:00 to play in the game.
UMBC then had a chance to win at the horn but Marcus Banks Jr.’s three-point field goal was too strong.
How it Happened
UMBC opened the scoring but a finish inside from Evans gave the Black and Gold their first lead, 6-5.
The Retrievers would regain the lead, 12-10, but Bryant answered with a 20-4 run over the next 5:00 to take a commanding lead.
Bryant would make 8-of-10 from the field, including back-to-back threes from Connor Withers and Pinzon to make it 30-16.
Pinzon would hit his second three of the half and Cramer finished a beautiful feed from Timberlake with a monstrous two-handed slam to make it 42-28 with 3:28 left.
UMBC tightened things up with an 11-0 run to close the half. The Retrievers made each of their final five field goals, with Banks drilling a three with just six seconds left.
Bryant’s lead was cut to 42-39 at the break.
UMBC would extend its run to 16-0 at the start of the second half to take a 44-42 lead.
Bryant would recover to take a 48-46 on a pair of Timberlake free throws with 16:43 left.
UMBC, however, would score the next seven points to take a 53-48 lead and force a Bryant timeout with 15:09 to play.
Pinzon then took over for Bryant, scoring eight of the team’s next 10 points to tie the game at 58-58. He hit consecutive threes from opposite sides of the court to tie it with 11:52 left.
Pinzon then sank another three to give the Black and Gold a 61-58 lead moments later.
UMBC would answer as a Banks three pushed the Retrievers ahead, 65-63 with 8:49 left.
A Pinzon turnaround tied the game at 65-65 but Marlon Short’s three with 7:56 left gave UMBC the lead back.
UMBC maintained a three-point edge before the Black and Gold made their push. Pinzon knocked down a pull up but had a three rattle out. Timberlake, however, put back the miss to give the Bulldogs a 73-72 lead.
A Josh Odunowo free throw tied the game at 75-75 with 3:05 left.
Mitchell then corralled an offensive rebound, his fifth of the game, and was fouled. He sank both free throws to make it 77-75.
Barry Evans then forced a UMBC turnover in front of its bench, deflecting a pass off the Retriever. On the ensuing possession, Pinzon found Mitchell on a slip and the Bronx native finished at the rim to make it 79-75.
A Timberlake hook shot gave Bryant a 81-77 lead with 20 seconds left.
Banks then hit two free throws with 12 seconds left and UMBC forced a Bryant turnover on the inbounds, getting the ball at midcourt. The Retrievers got the ball to Banks and his three over Jakai Robinson rimmed off.
Stats
Bryant finished the game 31-of-64 (48.4 percent) from the field, 6-of-24 (25.0 percent) from three and 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the line.
The Bulldogs held a 39-25 edge on the glass leading to a 17-4 outcome in second-chance points.
Bryant finished with 14 offensive rebounds.
The Bulldogs posted 16 assists on the afternoon.
Pinzon led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting. He was 5-of-13 from three.
Timberlake finished with 20 points (6-of-13 FG, 8-of-8 FT), 11 rebounds and six assists.
Mitchell notched a double-double with 12 points (5-6 FG) and 11 rebounds.
Evans collected 10 points, four boards and three assists.
Robinson had just three points but grabbed seven rebounds and had two steals.
Game Notes
Bryant improves to 4-2 vs UMBC since joining the America East. The Bulldogs have won each of the last four meetings.
Bryant’s 11 league wins match last year’s total.
Saturday’s victory also secures the Bulldogs a top four seed in the America East Tournament.
Coupled with Maine’s loss to Vermont on Saturday, Bryant is now two games ahead of both Maine and Vermont in the league standings.
The Bulldogs are now 8-3 at home this season. Bryant is 52-12 at home and 54-22 in league play since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Bryant has now scored 80+ points in 9-of-12 league games.
Timberlake recorded his 11th double-double of the year and the 31st of his career. He has seven double-doubles in America East play.
Timberlake finished in double-figures for the 23rd time this season and the 76th time in his career. He posted his sixth 20-point game of the year and the 15th of his career.
Evans posted has scored in double figures in 21 games this year and 23 times in his career.
Pinzon finished in double figures for the 21st time this year and the 50th time in his career.
Pinzon now has 10 20-point games this year and 17 in his career.
Pinzon is now tied for the league lead with 18.4 ppg.
Mitchell recorded his fourth double-double of the season. He finished in double figures for the ninth time and with double-digit rebounds for the seventh time.
Mitchell recorded five offensive rebounds and is now averaging 3.0 offensive reb/game in America East play.
Up Next
Bryant will travel to Vermont on Thursday (Feb. 20) to face the Catamounts. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.