Withers Shines with 19 Points as Bryant Dominates Vermont, 73-53

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Connor Withers topped the scoring chart with 19 points as the Bryant men’s basketball squad surged past the University of Vermont, 73-53, on Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

Following this victory, the Bulldogs elevate their overall record to 8-9 and are 2-0 in the America East. This match marked Bryant’s first triumph over the Catamounts since their inception in the league two years back. Bryant will again take the floor on Thursday night (Jan. 16) when they go to UAlbany.
 
Bryant found themselves trailing 24-14 with 8:21 remaining in the initial half but then outperformed Vermont 43-8 over the ensuing 17 minutes of gameplay to seize a 57-32 advantage with 11:21 left in the second period. The Bulldogs restricted the Catamounts to 4-of-16 from the floor and caused 11 turnovers during this stretch.
 
Withers led the Black and Gold with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor. He contributed four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Barry Evans (5-7 FG) and Rafael Pinzon (5-17 FG) each concluded the match with 13 points, while Earl Timberlake added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
 
Game Summary
Bryant 73, Vermont 53
Records: Bryant 8-9, 2-0 | Vermont 9-9, 2-1
Venue: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, RI)
Attendance: 857

Crucial Moments

• Withers netted seven consecutive points to grant Bryant its initial advantage and kick off the 43-8 run that sealed the game’s outcome.

How it Unfolded

• Vermont initiated the scoring on Saturday, netting the first seven points and keeping Bryant scoreless for the initial 4:30 of the match.
• The Catamounts maintained a 15-5 advantage at the 12:00 mark, limiting Bryant to 2-of-13 from the floor to begin.
• Bryant and Vermont exchanged three-pointers on six straight possessions, with Withers scoring from long range to close the gap to seven, 17-24.
• Pinzon then buried his first three-pointer of the day after the under-8 media timeout, reducing Bryant’s deficit to four, 20-24.
• Pinzon would convert another three-pointer as the Bulldogs narrowed the margin to one, 25-26, thanks to an 11-2 run.
• Withers’ second three-pointer of the match, this time from the corner, delivered Bryant a 28-26 edge with 3:57 remaining.
• This three-pointer ignited a 7-0 run by Withers to extend the Bulldogs’ advantage to 32-26 with 3:09 left.
• An Evans three-pointer with 1:10 remaining granted Bryant a 37-30 lead at halftime, with the Black and Gold concluding the half on a 23-6 stretch.
• After starting 2-of-13, Bryant wrapped up the half converting 12-of-18 from the field over the closing 12 minutes.
• Withers continued his momentum into the second half, making a turnaround hook shot before converting a steal into a two-handed dunk on the other end.
• Timberlake and Evans would then score through contact to elevate Bryant’s lead to 53-32 with 13:00 remaining.
• Cramer would then execute an alley-oop dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
• Another dunk from Cramer extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 57-32 with 11:19 to go.
• Bryant opened up the game in the second half, starting 10-of-16 from the field while restricting the Catamounts to a 1-of-8 start.
• The Black and Gold managed to pull away in the second half, stretching their lead to as much as 27 (64-37) on a Pinzon step-back three with 6:48 left.

Statistics

• Bryant concluded the game shooting 29-of-65 (44.6 percent) from the field, 11-of-27 (40.7 percent) from beyond the arc, and 4-of-6 (66.7 percent) from the free-throw line.
• UVM held a slim advantage on the glass, 34-33.
• Bryant registered 14 assists, 11 steals, and committed only six turnovers.
• The Black and Gold also limited UVM to nine offensive boards (UVM had 17 in a win at UML on Thursday).
• Withers led all players with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 3-of-7 from three. He also had four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
• Evans finished with 13 points, seven boards, and four assists.
• Pinzon recorded 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting from three.
• Timberlake amassed 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals in 36 minutes.
• Bryant held UVM’s leading scorer, TJ Hurley, scoreless.

Game Insights

• Bryant achieved its first win in five encounters against the Catamounts in America East action. This victory also marks Bryant’s first over the Catamounts since November 16, 2013.
• Bryant’s 20-point win signifies Vermont’s largest loss in the league since a 21-point defeat at Maine on February 27, 2005.
• Bryant improves to 4-2 at home this season and boasts a 48-12 home record since the onset of the 2020-21 season.
• The Black and Gold stand 2-0 in league play for the second consecutive year.
• Timberlake reached double figures for the 14^th time this season and the 67^th time in his career.
• Timberlake recorded 4+ assists for the 9^th time this season, becoming the sixth player in DI program history to achieve 260+ career assists.
• Timberlake’s four steals were a season-high and just one short of his career record.
• Evans achieved double figures for the 15th time in 17 games this season.
• Withers reached double figures for the 7^th time this season and the 44^th time in his career. His 19 points represented his highest against a DI opponent this season.
• Pinzon achieved double figures for the 12^th time this season and the 41^st time in his career.

Next Steps
Bryant will travel for their first away game in conference play when they take on UAlbany next Thursday (Jan. 16). The tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.