Birrell leads Bulldogs with 16 points as late 11-2 run seals victory

RINDGE, N.H. (February 5, 2008) – Bryant University, ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional poll, used a late second half run to defeat Franklin Pierce University, 62-53, in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at the Fieldhouse tonight.

Sophomore Chris Birrell (Scituate, R.I./Scituate) led Bryant with a game-high 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, and added a game-high eight assists. Freshman Barry Latham (Taunton, Mass./Marianapolis Prep (Conn.)) recorded a double-double effort of 12 points (4-of-7 from the field) and 13 rebounds, adding two blocked shots, two steals and a pair of assists. Junior Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, Ohio/Dater) also reached double figures with 11 points.

Juniors Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) and Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon (Mass.) School) paced Franklin Pierce with 13 points apiece. Munch just missed a double-double with a season-high nine rebounds and added a game-high four steals. Varanauskas hauled in six boards and had a team-best three assists for the Ravens. Freshman Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) chipped in eight points and four boards.

Franklin Pierce opened strong, jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first 3:24 of play, but Bryant responded with a 17-2 run to grab a 17-10 lead with 8:09 gone in the first half. The Bulldog lead grew to eight with 8:56 remaining in the half, but Bryant needed a tip-in by Latham and a three-pointer by Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, N.J./Saint Benedict’s) over the final 1:32 to take a five-point edge into the break at 32-27.

Franklin Pierce came out strong to begin the second half as well, as Varanauskas and Munch combined for seven points and a three-pointer by freshman Jeff Manchester (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) gave the home team a 36-35 lead with 16:21 to play. After a free-throw from Andrew Lyell (Portsmouth, R.I./Northfield-Mount Herman) knotted the game at 36, Latham scored on a layup to give the Bulldogs the final lead change of the evening.

Franklin Pierce continued to hang tough, as Varanauskas nailed a three-pointer with 8:57 remaining to lower the deficit to only two points. But Bryant scored 11 of the next 13 points, highlighted by a four-point play from Birrell, to gain an 11-point lead late in the half and hold on for the victory.

Franklin Pierce (7-14, 3-13 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Saint Anselm College at 3:30 p.m. The Ravens return home next Wednesday, to host the University of Massachusetts Lowell at 7:30 p.m. Bryant (13-9, 9-8 NE-10) hosts American International College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.