Bryant University’s men’s basketball team outscored the University of Maine 41-7 spanning the first and second halves and cruised to an 81-55 America East victory at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island Saturday afternoon.
It was a mutual league opener.
Bryant improved to 7-9 overall and snapped a four-game losing streak.
UMaine fell to 8-8 after losing its third straight game.
The Black Bears jumped out to an 18-10 lead but they were outscored 28-7 over the final 13 minutes of the first half to trail 38-25 at the intermission.
The Bulldogs cemented the victory by scoring the first 13 points of the second half as the Black Bears missed their first six shots of the half and turned the ball over three times.
Graduate student guard Earl Timberlake, an All-America East first team selection last season, and junior forward Barry Evans had 18 points apiece to lead the Bulldogs. Timberlake also pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds and dished out two assists.
Evans had eight rebounds, four steals and three assists to accompany his 18 points.
Graduate student forward Kvonn Cramer produced 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots for Bryant. Sophomore guard Aaron Davis and senior forward Connor Withers had nine points each and Withers also had six rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore forward Keyshawn Mitchell had eight points, four rebounds and three assists.
Senior guard A.J. Lopez poured in a game-high 24 points for the Black Bears, tying his career high.
He was the only Black Bear in double figures.
Sophomore guard Logan Carey had nine points and graduate student guard Kellen Tynes had seven points, four steals, two rebounds and two assists.
Junior forward Ridvan Tutic had six points and three rebounds and junior forward Keelan Steele had a team-high four rebounds and two points.
Bryant outrebounded UMaine 45-24 leading to a 42-22 advantage from points in the paint and a 19-2 edge in second-chance points.
Bryant shot 50 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent beyond the 3-point arc compared to UMaine’s 34 percent and 29.4 percent, respectively.
UMaine will play its first home conference game on Thursday when it entertains Binghamton at 6 p.m.
Bryant will host Vermont on Saturday at 2 p.m.
