Smithfield, RI (AP) – Barry Evans scored 19 points, Earl Timberlake added 17 and Bryant, seeded, sailed to the America East championship, beating Maine 77-59 on Saturday.
The Bulldogs qualified for the NCAA tournament for the second time, after having made their other trip when they won the Northeast Conference in 2022.
Bryant led by 11 points at halftime and maintained control in the first 11 minutes of the second half, upgrading Maine 23-13. Evans struck a 3-point for an advance of 19 points and his lay-up on the following possession of Bryant was 61-40 with nine minutes to play.
The Bulldogs then was cold for several minutes. They had four missed shots and three reversals before Timberlake converted a three-point game with about five minutes to do and another 3-point Evans point on the following possession made 67-50. A 3 points by Connor Withers made 75-54 with 1:23 remaining.
Evans made 8 of the 11 shots, including his two 3 -point attempts, and took seven rebounds. Timberlake, the player of the year of America East, managed four rebounds, five assists and four interceptions. He also blocked two shots.
Rafael Pinzon added 13 points and Keyshawn Mitchell 12 for Bryant (23-11).
AJ Lopez scored 20 points and Kellen Tynes had 10 for the Black Bears (20-14).
Bryant never dragged in the first half and there were only two links, the last at 8-8. Bryant led 20-16 before Mitchell scored four points and Evans added a dunk to give the Bulldogs an advance of 28-18. Later, Timberlake struck a rider with two seconds to play and Bryant led 38-27 at halftime.
The Bulldogs improved at 9-3 on their home house in playoffs.
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