Bryant Falls 72-66 To Akron, Drop to 1-3
GoLocalProv Sports Team
Bryant Falls 72-66 To Akron, Drop to 1-3
See five takeaways slideshow below
The Bulldogs took a 44-40 lead with just over 15 minutes to play in the game but could not hold on as the Zips used a 14-0 run to put the Bulldogs in a huge hole. Bryant got as close as three points, 69-66, with 22 seconds left in the game but could not steal the victory.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDyami Starks led the Bulldogs, recording a season high 25 points on seven of 16 shooting from the field. Curtis Oakley made his first start of the year and followed up Starks with 13 points of his own in the loss.
Noah Robotham led the Zips with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in the game.
The Bulldogs next return home on Wednesday, December 3 when the Yale Bulldogs come to town. Cick here for tickets.
For more on Bryant's loss, see the five takeaways slideshow below.
Five Takeaways from Bryant's 72-66 Loss to Akron
Turnovers
One stat that head coach Tim O'Shea has to be happy about is the fact that the Bulldogs only turned the ball over eight times in this game. Though Akron did have 14 points off those turnovers.
The eight turnovers are a season low and a huge improvement over the 16 turnovers that Bryant committed against Vermont.
If Bryant can keep their turnovers down, they will be in the majority of the games they play this season.
Akron turned the ball over 13 times but the Bulldogs only cashed in for nine points off of Akron's mistakes.
Curtis Oakley
Curtis Oakley got the start, for the first time this season, for the Bulldogs who went with a four guard set with one forward.
In 20 minutes of play time for Bryant, Oakley had 13 points, one steal and four rebounds in the game. He knocked down all three shots he took from beyond the three-point arc, however he did not get to the free throw line.
Oakley has come off the bench all season for the Bulldogs and puts up a season high in points in this first game as a starter this year.
Dyami Starks
Dyami Starks continues to lead the Bulldogs this season. Starks had a monster game against Akron, putting in a season high 25 points to go along with four rebounds, one assist and three steals.
He shot 43 percent from the floor in this game and then went four for four from the free throw line where he has yet to miss this season.
Starks also had no turnovers in the game against Akron.
Too many jump shots
The Bulldogs need to find a way to get easier shots in games and need to get their big guys more involved.
In this game, Bryant went with four guards and used Dan Garvin as the only forward. Garvin went one for four and only had two points in the game.
Bryant lost the points in the paint battle 18-16 which is not bad but they shot 35 percent from the field in the game. The Bulldogs need to find better shots or at least get to the foul line. They shot 15 free throws in this game, compared to 23 for Akron.
Need better starts
For the second straight game, Bryant fell behind right off the start. Against Vermont they trailed 9-2 and 13-4 early on and in this game against Akron they trailed 6-2 and 13-5 early on in the game.
Unlike against Vermont though, their slow start was not the major reason they lost this game, they took a four point lead with about 15 minutes left in the game but just could not hold on.
However, the slow starts are an issue for the Bulldogs. It didn't necessarily cost them in this game, but it certainly didn't help them.
