Ezeokoli’s 26 points lead Bulldogs past Ravens

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (November 25, 2007) – Bryant University rallied late for a 55-53 victory over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at the Chace Wellness Center this afternoon.

Senior Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, N.J./St. Benedict’s) converted a conventional three-point play with 3:40 to play to put Bryant in front for good and finished with a game-high 26 points (20 2nd half). He also contributed four rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Bulldogs.

Junior Ryan McLean (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) grabbed a team-high ten rebounds (five offensive) for Bryant, while junior Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, Ohio/Dater) chipped in six points, nine rebounds and two steals.

Sophomore Marcus Wellman (Monroe, Conn./Hamden Hall) led Franklin Pierce with his first career double-double, finishing with 14 points and a career-best ten rebounds to go with three assists and two steals. He hit 4-of-8 shots from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range. Freshman Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) netted a season-high 18 points, on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor (2-4 three’s) and converted 4-6 free throws, to go with four rebounds and two steals. Junior Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) chipped in seven points and seven rebounds.

Neither team shot well on the afternoon, Franklin Pierce hitting at 31.4-percent (16-of-51) from the field, compared to 30.3% (20-66) for Bryant. However, the Bulldogs were able to hit for 34.5% (10-29) in the second half, with the Ravens shooting 32% (8-25) in that frame. The game featured 12 lead changes and seven ties, with neither team leading by more than six points. Bryant turned a 50-40 advantage in rebounds into an 18-11 edge in second-chance points.

Franklin Pierce led by one (27-26) at halftime and worked that lead to six (43-37) after a Dozier three-pointer with 9:21 to play. A 9-3 Bryant run forced the seventh tie of the contest (46-46) after an Ezeokoli three with 5:49 to go.

Wellman hit one-of-two at the line to put Franklin Pierce back in front (47-46) with 4:43 left, but Ezeokoli answered with a conventional three-point play at the other end to give Bryant a lead it would not relinquish. The Ravens closed within two after a Dozier lay-up with six-seconds left. Fouled on the play, Dozier missed the free throw, and McLean came down with the rebound to end the comeback bid.

Franklin Pierce (2-2, 0-2 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Pace University at 7:30 p.m. Bryant (2-2, 1-1 NE-10) visits Assumption College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.