Bryant beats Sacred Heart 84-68

Bryant beats Sacred Heart 84-68

When it comes down to the end, all you really need is destiny in your own hands.

With that thought in mind, Bryant ran past Sacred Heart 84-68 Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, avenging an earlier road loss this season to the Pioneers.  And in the process, with two games left in the regular season, the Bulldogs are in position to do something they've been hoping to do since the move up to Division I.

Play - and win - in the post-season.

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Senior point guard Frankie Dobbs and junior forward Alex Francis paced Bryant (18-9, 11-5 Northeast Conference) to the win. Dobbs picked up his second double-double of the year and fourth of his career with 17 points and 10 assists, while also grabbing a career-high seven steals. Francis would add 15 points with 10 boards on a 6-for-9 day from the field for his eighth double-double of the year and 24th of his career. Sophomore guard Dyami Starks led the Bulldogs in scoring with 25 points, the 12th 20-point game of his season.  Junior guard Corey Maynard also finished in double figures with 13 points.

Sacred Heart senior Shane Gibson, who scored his 2000th-career point during the game, led all scorers with 30 points for the Pioneers (9-18, 7-9).

With two games left to play in the regular season, the Bulldogs still have a say in where they will be seeded in next week's Northeast Conference Tournament, as Bryant would earn hosting rights throughout the eight-team playoff should it win the final two games on the schedule.  Bryant plays at home for its final two games, hosting league-leader Robert Morris Thursday night at 7 pm before facing Saint Francis in the regular-season finale Saturday at 4 pm.