Bryant goes extra time, but wins again
Friday, January 18, 2013
It took a little extra time Thursday night, but the result was the same for the Bryant Bulldogs.
Freshman Shane McLaughlin (Old Tappan, NJ) drove the lane for his only points of the game with six seconds left in overtime, sending Bryant to a 79-78 victory over Mount St. Mary's Thursday night at Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, RI.
The extra five minutes included eight lead changes and four ties between the teams before McLaughlin's basket decided matters. Bryant moves to 12-4 overall on the season, with a perfect 5-0 mark in the Northeast Conference. Mount St. Mary's drops to 6-10 overall, 1-4 in league play. The win is Bryant's 7th straight overall.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTA Frankie Dobbs (Berea, OH) three-point play with just over five minutes to play gave the Bulldogs control of matters, leading 61-50. While the Mountaineers managed to close within 61-56 with 3:27 remaining, Dyami Starks (Duluth, MN) kept Bryant on top with a layup and another drive to the basket with under two minutes remaining. MSM's Rashad Whack connected on back-to-back three's to pull his team within one, and just a minute left in regulation.
After Dobbs hit two free throws for a three point lead, Shivaughn Wiggins answered with another trey with 10 seconds left to ultimately send the game into overtime, tied at 67.
Dobbs hit a three to tie the score at 72 with 2:29 to play in the extra period, and junior forward Alex Francis (Harlem, NY) hit on a big three point play to grab the momentum. Francis ended the night leading the Bulldogs with 25 points. Julian Norfleet hit a bucket with 22 seconds left to put MSM back in the lead, before McLaughlin's game winner.
The Bulldogs hit an impressive 58% of their shots from the floor for the game...and have now won 12 of their last 14 games overall. Bryant will have only a few days to enjoy the win. with a Saturday game against Wagner at 4 pm at the Chace Athletic Center.
