The Bryant University men’s basketball team faces a formidable challenge as they compete on the national stage Friday night.
The Bulldogs secured a position in this year’s NCAA Tournament by clinching the America East Conference championship.
They received a 15-seed in the southern bracket, indicating they will face Michigan State, a consistent postseason contender.
The Spartans possess a 27-6 overall record, achieving an 18-4 record in the Big Ten Conference, marking their 27th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. This constitutes a Big Ten record and represents the second-longest active streak in the NCAA.
The Bryant MBB team boards buses en route to the NCAA Tournament.
This marks Bryant’s second tournament appearance since the program transitioned to Division I, the first occurring in 2022. The Bulldogs achieved a record of 23-11 for the season and 17-2 inside their conference.
The two teams will compete against each other on Friday night in Cleveland.
The game is set to commence at 10 p.m. on TBS.
Bryant is the sole team representing Rhode Island in the event. Providence serves as one of the host cities for the initial two rounds, with two additional games scheduled for Saturday at the AMP.
What time are the NCAA Tournament games scheduled for Saturday in Providence?
Below are some succinct details regarding the game on Friday night:
The Spartans possess an 18-4 record against Big Ten adversaries and a 9-2 record in non-conference matches. Michigan State averages 78.2 points and outperforms opponents by 11.0 points each game.
The Bulldogs possess a record of 17-2 in America East competitions. Bryant is positioned sixth in the America East, with a 3-point shooting percentage of 33.7%.
Michigan State averages 78.2 points per game, above Bryant’s allowance of 73.9 points by 4.3 points. Bryant averaged 7.8 successful 3-pointers per game this season, exceeding Michigan State’s average of 6.7 allowed per game by 1.1.
Outstanding Achievers
Jaxon Kohler averages 8 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Spartans. Jase Richardson has an average of 16.1 points per game over the past 10 games.
Rafael Pinzon averages 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game for the Bulldogs. Earl Timberlake is averaging 15.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.9 blocks in the last 10 games.
Previous Ten Matches
Spartans: 8-2, with an average of 74.3 points, 35.4 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 5.5 steals, and 3.2 blocks per game, shooting 44.3% from the floor. Their adversaries have averaged 66.8 points each game.
Bulldogs: 9-1, with an average of 80.6 points, 39.4 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 6.3 steals, and 6.2 blocks per game, shooting 46.5% from the floor. Their adversaries have averaged 69.2 points.
