Bryant defeats Maine 51-56

Bryant Edges Maine in Thrilling 5-Point Victory

The Bryant Bulldogs (AWAY) pulled off a thrilling 56-51 win over the Maine Black Bears (HOME) at The Pit in Memorial Gymnasium on Sunday, January 3rd.

In a closely contested game that saw both teams trade baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage until the final minutes, Bryant emerged victorious. The Bulldogs' victory marked their first road win of the season against a conference opponent.

Maine took an early lead, outscoring the Bulldogs in the first half 17-26. However, Bryant evened the score before halftime with an impressive display of shooting, with three-pointers providing a crucial boost to their offense.

The turning point came midway through the second half when Bryant's Quincy Allen sank a layup and followed up with a steal, which led to a fast break opportunity that ended in Aaron Davis III's go-ahead basket. The 13-point lead that Maine had earlier proved too much for them to overcome.

TJ Biel, who dominated in the paint for Maine, scored 20 points but couldn't prevent his team from falling short. For Bryant, it was a strong all-around performance from Quincy Allen, who grabbed 11 rebounds and chipped in with 12 points.

The Bulldogs' bench played a crucial role in the win as well, providing key contributions down the stretch. The team's defense also showed signs of improvement, holding Maine to just 56% eFG%, or an effective field goal percentage that would normally be considered excellent.

Bryant's victory marked a significant upset against a conference opponent and will likely have implications for their playoff hopes. Meanwhile, Maine dropped to 0-5 in conference play with the loss.

Game Leaders

Maine:

* TJ Biel: 20 points, 7 rebounds

* TJ Biel: 3 assists

Bryant:

* Quincy Allen: 12 points, 11 rebounds

* Ty Tabales: 5 assists