Rivera’s Double-Double, Late Block Helps Bryant Hold Off Maine Thursday

Bryant University Press Release

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Daniel Rivera finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Bryant University men’s basketball team earned a 77-72 victory over Maine on Thursday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 17-9 overall and 9-2 in the America East. Bryant will face third-place UMass Lowell on Saturday at the Chace with a tip set for 4:00 p.m.

Rivera went 9-of-16 from the field to post his fourth 20-point effort the season. He added 11 boards for his fourth double-double of the season. Earl Timberlake collected his fourth-straight 20-point game, going for 20 and 7, while Sherif Gross-Bullock (15) and Tyler Brelsford (11) also finished in double figures.

Game Information
Bryant 77, Maine 72
Records: Bryant 17-9, 9-2 AE | Maine 11-14, 3-7 AE
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Attendance: 1,001

Key Moments

• River and Connor Withers teamed up to block Adam Cisse with under 30 seconds remaining, keeping Bryant ahead by one. Timberlake and Rivera then canned all four of their free throws to close it out.

How it Happened

• Bryant got off to a strong start on Thursday thanks to a steady defensive effort that held Maine to 3-of-9 from the field in the first six minutes.
• The Bulldogs grabbed the lead thanks to threes from Brelsford and Withers.
• Maine was able to take the lead prior to the under-8 media with a 9-0 run that spanned nearly three minutes of game play. Peter Filipovity gave the Black Bears their first lead and AJ Lopez canned a jumper to force a Bryant timeout with 7:49 left.
• Timberlake was able to put an end to the run with a driving layup but the Black Bears stretched the lead to seven, 30-23, with 5:30 to play.
• Again it was Timberlake answering, spinning home a shot off the glass.
• The basket ignited a 7-0 run that tied the game at 32-32 with 3:06 left. After Rivera banked home a transition runner, Brelsford swished a three from the wing to tie the score.
• Maine was once again able to take the lead twice late but a pair of Rivera free throws with six seconds left in the half gave Bryant a 39-38 lead at the break.
• Bryant would take a 45-40 lead on Brelsford’s third three of the evening at the 16:34 mark.
• The Black Bears, however, would score the next six to take a one-point lead at the under-16 media.
• Rivera sparked Bryant out of the media, completing a three-point play off a dish from Gross-Bullock. He followed that with an offensive putback to give Bryant the lead back, 50-49.
• Brelsford took Bryant into the under-12 media with a theft and a finish at the other end.
• Bryant and Maine then traded threes as Doug Edert and Quion Burns both swished triples, leaving Bryant ahead, 55-54.
• Gross-Bullock then drilled a three from in front of the Bryant bench to make it a six-point game, 62-54, with 8:03 left.
• The Black and Gold would push their lead to nine, 68-59, on back-to-back buckets from Rivera. His second was magnificent, as he spun away from Adam Cisse and finished at the glass.
• Maine would answer with the next six but the Bulldogs took a 71-67 lead into the under-4 media.
• A three from AJ Lopez would trim Bryant’s lead to one, 73-72, with 2:00 to play.
• The game would stay there thanks to an incredible defensive effort from Rivera and Withers. The duo combined to block Adam Cisse with 30 seconds left.
• Bryant would get the rebound and Timberlake sank both ends of a 1-and-1 to make it 75-72 with 17.4 seconds left. Rivera iced the game with a pair from the line.

Stats

• Bryant finished 28-of-60 (46.7 percent) from the field, 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from three and 14-of-17 (82.4 percent) from the line.
• The Bulldogs held a 34-32 edge on the glass and a 40-30 edge in the paint.
• Rivera closed with 23 points on 9-of-16 from the field and 5-of-8 from the line. He added 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
• Timberlake finished with 20 points on 8-of-11 from the field. He added seven boards, two assists and two steals.
• Gross-Bullock posted 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in a full 40 minutes.
• Brelsford hit three triples and finished with 11.

Game Notes

• The win split the season series with Maine. The home team has won all four games in the series.
• Bryant is now 8-2 at home this season and 41-8 at home since the start of 2020-21 season.
• The Black and Gold have won nine league games, one more than last year.
• Timberlake finished in double figures for the 23rd time this year and the 50th time in his career.
• Timberlake posted his fourth straight 20-point game and his fifth of the season.
• Brelsford scored in double figures for the ninth time this year and the 19^th time in his career.
• Rivera posted his fourth double-double of the season. All four have come in league play.
• Rivera also secured his fourth 20-point effort of the season.
• Gross-Bullock scored in double figures for the 21^st time this year and the 67^th time in his career.
• Gross-Bullock has now scored 974 points at Bryant and 1,486 career points.

Up Next
Bryant welcomes UMass Lowell to the Chace Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. Tip is set for 4:00 p.m.