SMITHFIELD, R.I. — The Bryant Bulldogs emerged victorious with an 85-74 triumph over UMBC on Saturday in the opening quarterfinal round of the America East Conference Tournament.
In a notable achievement, the Bulldogs clinched the No. 1 seed for the first time since entering the conference, breaking Vermont’s eight-year streak of at least sharing the title. The tournament bracket will undergo reseeding following the end of the quarterfinals, with semifinal play commencing on Tuesday.
Rafael Pinzon led Bryant (21-11) with an impressive 22-point performance, hitting 8 of 20 shots from the field—including 3 of 10 from beyond the arc—and making 3 of 4 free throws. Earl Timberlake contributed significantly with 18 points, shooting 8 of 15 from the floor, and added seven rebounds along with eight assists. Kvonn Cramer delivered a strong effort with 12 points, connecting on 5 of 6 field goals, and led the team with 12 rebounds.
On the other side, Marcus Banks was the standout for the eighth-seeded Retrievers (13-19), scoring 24 points and securing nine rebounds. UMBC also saw contributions from Anthony Valentine, who added 14 points and two steals, while Josh Odunowo finished with 13 points.
This game marked an important step forward for Bryant as they eye further success in the tournament, looking to capitalize on their top seed advantage in the upcoming semifinals.
