Men's Basketball

November 18, 2007

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.-Junior AJ Reitter (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) led the Post University men's basketball team with 15 points, for his third double-digit outing of the season, as the Eagles fell to Bryant University, 72-60, in the second round of the Purple Knight Classic, at Harvey Hubble Gym, on the campus of the University of Bridgeport, Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (1-1), used a 10-2 run mid-way through the first half, to take a 21-11 lead with 9:03 left until halftime. Post (1-2) was able to cut the margin to four points with a jumper by junior James Lee (Montreal, Quebec, Canada/Vanier Prep) with 6:12 left in the half.

Bryant then hit a couple buckets, and received a three-pointer from Barry Latham to go up 30-19 at the 4:07 mark. Bryant would eventually take a 37-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the second half, Bryant took a 51-31 lead with 13:53 to play, but the Eagles went on a 15-5 run, capped by a three-pointer from Reitter cutting the lead to 56-46 with 9:32 left in the contest.

Bryant would score four points, before a lay-up by Lee and a three-pointer from senior swingman Arthur Robertson (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Beach Channel); cut the lead to 60-51 with 7:03 left in the game.

Bryant called time out, and out of the stoppage, missed a lay-up, and the Eagles controlled the ball, finding freshman Garvin McAlister (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) all alone in the corner for a three-pointer, which cut the lead to 60-54.

That was as close as the Eagles would get, as Bryant sealed the victory, sinking seven of eight from the free throw line in the last 2:28 of the game.

Robertson was the only other Eagle to record double figures, as he had 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Junior Omar Robinson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie) had eight points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field.

Bryant had four scorers in double-digits as Chris Birrell had a game-high 19 points, Latham and Cecil Gresham each had 15, and Jon Ezeokoli added 11.

For the firs time this season, the Eagles were out rebounded as the Bulldogs enjoyed a slight 37-34 edge on the glass, but the Eagles had a 12-8 advantage on the offensive boards. Bryant shot a sizzling 50 percent (25-50) from the field, and 41.7 percent (5-12) from three-point range. Post struggled shooting only 37.7 percent (23-61) from the floor and 25.8 percent (8-31) from three-point range.

Post had 15 assists on 23 field goals and was led by Robertson and Lee who each had four. Robinson added three on the afternoon.

After opening the season with three straight games away from home (one road, two neutral), the Eagles will open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday evening against C.W. Post. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. following the Post women's game against NYIT at 5 p.m.

Game Notes: Robertson needs three points for 1,000 in his career ... The two teams will meet again this season, as the Eagles travel to the Bryant Christmas Tournament on December 28 ... Post will also face Assumption College, the next day ... Junior Rob McClain recorded his first points with the Eagles, as he sank a pair of free throws at the 3:47 mark of the first half ... Freshman Garvin McAlister also had his first collegiate points, with a trey at the 6:37 mark of the second stanza ... Bryant's Cecil Gresham, started the game wearing number 33, but changed his number at halftime because of a cut, he came out and scored the first four points of the second half for the Bulldogs ... Post is out rebounding opponents 51-31 on the offensive glass in three games this season ... Post returns home with the second longest home court winning streak in the region at 13 games, Bentley leads the region with 19 wins on its home court.