Greg Twomey (18 points) leads men's basketball past Bryant, 74-72, in Northeast-10 Conference overtime game

January 8, 2008

ASSUMPTION 74, BRYANT 72

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Senior forward captain GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable) scored five of his 18 points in overtime as Assumption College men's basketball team defeated Bryant University, 74-72, in overtime here TUESDAY at the Chace Athletic Center.

The win improves the Greyhounds overall record to 12-4 surpassing last year's total of 11 and 6-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Greyhounds have won seven of their last eight games, two by overtime. Bryant, which lost earlier in the season in Worcester, 69-66, is now 8-7 overall and 4-6 in conference action.

The Greyhounds moved to a 38-35 halftime advantage as senior forward MIKE FOTI (Franklin, MA/Franklin) led the way with 17 points including scorching the nets for four three-pointers in five attempts. Sophomore guard CHRIS BIRRELL (Scituate, RI/Scituate) led the Bulldogs with 10 points including a pair of three-pointers.

The Greyhounds increased their three-point halftime cushion to 10 points, 57-47, with 9:46 left as junior guard MITCH BAJEMA (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian) hit a wing jumper and senior forward COREY DIETHORN (Pittsbugh, PA/Sewickley) made a lane jumper on a feed from sophomore point guard COURTLAND BLUFORD (Ft. Washington, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti).

The Bulldogs would climb back into contention at 63-61 as freshman forward BARRY LATHAM (Taunton, MA/Marianapolis Prep, CT) scored off his own offensive rebound with 1:28 remaining. Birrell tied the game at 63-63 on a coast-to-coast drive after grabbing the rebound of a missed jumper.

A top of the circle jumper by Bluford put the Hounds in front, 65-63, however sophomore forward CECIL GRESHAM (Bloomfield, CT/Maine Central) tied it with 23 seconds left on a feed from Birrell.

Twomey scored off an inside move nine seconds into the overtime period before Gresham hit the second of a two-shot free throw opportunity. Junior center JERRANN WRIGHT (Cincinnati, OH/Dater) scored on a jump hook with 4:01 left for the first lead of the game for Bryant, 68-67.

Twomey tied the game with the second of a two-shot free-throw situation and Diethorn made back-to-back jumpers on feeds from Twomey to give the Greyhounds the lead, 72-68, with 1:39 left.

Two free throws by Gresham made it a two-point game, 72-70, with 1:20 left before Bajema and then Diethorn made one of two free throws to make it four points. Wright's layup with six seconds left accounted for the final score.

The Greyhounds, as usual, sported a balanced attack with four double-figure scorers as Twomey (18 points, 4 assists), Foti (17 points), Diethorn (15 points) and Bluford (12 points) paced the attack. Diethorn led the Greyhounds with 15 rebounds for a double-double, while Bluford had a season-high five steals. Gresham (15 points, 10 rebounds), Birrell (14 points) and Latham (10 points) paced Bryant.

Diethorn went over the 900 point mark in his career (now at 905), while Twomey checks in at 854 points. Both will have an opportunity to join the 1,000-point club this year with 13 regular-season and an untold number of post-season games remaining.

The Greyhounds host Saint Michael's College THURSDAY in the first ever meeting of New England Division II 1,000-win programs. Tapoff is at 7:30 p.m., while Bryant is at Pace in Northeast-10 Conference action.

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