Bryant Unable to Get Over Hump Against UMass Lowell

Sherif Gross-Bullock posted his third-straight 20-point effort but the Bryant University men’s basketball team was unable to complete a second-half comeback, falling to UMass Lowell, 85-71, on Wednesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the loss, the Bulldogs fall to 16-10 overall and 7-6 in the America East. The Black and Gold have lost back-to-back games.

Gross-Bullock finished with 23 points and added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. Antwan Walker added 11 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Charles Pride added 13 and Miles Latimer contributed 10.

Game Information
UMass Lowell 85, Bryant 71
Records: Bryant 16-10, 7-6 AE | UMass Lowell 21-7, 8-5 AE
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 842

Key Moments

Clinging to a two-point lead, Ayinde Hikim hit a floater to kick start a 7-0 run for the River Hawks.
How it Happened

Wednesday saw a slow start for both teams as the Bulldogs got baskets from four different players but trailed 14-8 with 13:00 remaining.
The River Hawks hit back-to-back threes to make it 22-11 with 9:41 to go in the first half.
Bryant then rattled off the next five points thanks to a flagrant 1 foul on Max Brooks.
The River Hawks took a 32-20 lead into the under-4 media timeout.
Bryant continued to struggle from the field, hitting just 7-of-25 (28.0 percent) from the field and just 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from the line.
Gross-Bullock hit Bryant’s lone three of the first half as the clock ran out, sending the game to the break with the Black and Gold down 12, 37-25.
Bryant came out of the break hot, starting the half on an 8-0 run. SGB made a floater and then drilled a three from the top. Walker capped the run with an offensive putback to force a UML timeout.
After UML pushed the lead back to eight, Max Brooks was tagged with his second technical and was ejected from the game. Pride hit a pair of technical free throws and SGB finished at the rack to bring Bryant back to within four, 41-37, with 15:40 to play.
A Tyler Brelsford three from the wing and an Earl Timberlake finish inside brought Bryant within one, 43-42, with 14:38 left.
The River Hawks, however, got a big block as Bryant attempted to take the lead and then pushed their lead to 50-44 with 11:45 left.
Bryant pulled within four again, 52-48, but the River Hawks scored the next five to take a 57-48 lead with 8:32 left.
The Black and Gold answered as Walker canned two free throws and then finished a floater for four-quick points. Pride then muscled his way to the basket to make it 57-54 with 7:43 left.
A three-point play from Pride would bring Bryant within two, 65-63, with 4:40 left. SGB once again made it a two-point game moments later, streaking to the rim.
Hikim, however, hit a floater late in the shot clock to energize UML. The River Hawks got a pair of free throws from Allin Blunt and then Everette Hammond hit a dagger three to make it 74-65 with 2:15 left.
Stats

Bryant finished the game 24-of-57 (42.1 percent) from the field, 3-of-15 (20.0 percent) from three and 20-of-30 (66.7 percent) from the line.
UML held a slight edge in rebounding, 40-38.
Bryant finished with just six assists in the game.
Gross-Bullock scored 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field. He added 10 rebounds for the double-double.
Walker had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks on the night.
Pride finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while Latimer posted 10 points and four boards.
Timberlake added nine points, five rebounds and three blocks.
Game Notes

Bryant was swept in the season series with UMass Lowell.
The all-time series between Bryant and UML is now tied at 19-19.
Bryant falls to 9-3 at the Chace Athletic Center this season.
Pride now has 1,494 points and 727 rebounds in his career.
Pride finished in double-digits for the 21st time this season and the 75th time his career.
Gross-Bullock finished in double figures for the 22nd time this season and the 44th time in his career.
Gross-Bullock posted his 10th 20-point game of the year and the 13th of his career.
Gross-Bullock has scored 20+ points in each of his last three games.
Gross-Bullock posted his second double-double of the season.
Walker posted his eighth double-double of the year and the 13th of his career.
Up Next
Bryant is off on Saturday before heading to NJIT next Wednesday, Feb. 22. Tip is set for 7:02 p.m.