Press Release

BRYANT HANDS SMC MEN NINTH STRAIGHT LOSS, 77-63 Smith plays in 100th game as a Purple Knight: Randall scores 21 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               FOR MORE INFORMATION January 24, 2004                                                                                Contact: Seth Cole Courtesy Bryant Sports Information                                                      Phone: (802) 654-2537 SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Romuald Augustin (Montreal, Quebec) scored a career-high 26 points and freshman Chris Burns (Merrimack, N.H.) came off the bench to add 15 as the Bryant men's basketball team won its second-straight, defeating Saint Michael's 77-63 here Saturday afternoon. With the win, Bryant improves to 15-4 overall and 10-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Saint Michael's was led by senior Delbert Randall's (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) 21 points as the Purple Knights drop to 4-14 overall and 1-13 in league. Bryant led from start to finish in this one. Leading 46-36 at the half, Saint Michael's would trim the Bryant lead down to 50-45 after a free throw by senior Ben Smith (Southport Island, Maine/Boothbay Region), but the Bulldogs pushed the lead back to 55-45 following a tip in by Mario Correia (Brockton, Mass.) after a missed jumper by Cullen McCarthy (Mansfield, Mass.).   The Purple Knights would close to within nine with ten minutes remaining, but Bryant would outscore the Purple Knights 12-4 over the next five minutes to put the game out of reach as McCarthy drained a three in front of the Bryant bench to make to 71-54 with 4:41 remaining. Augustin, whose previous high was 23 this season (22 was his career best while at Providence), made 8 of 15 from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds in the win. In addition, the senior had five steals and a pair of blocks. Correia finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.   Saint Michael's shot 33 percent from the floor and made just 2 of 14 three-point attempts. The Purple Knights were successful at the line, making 23 of 27 on the day, including 9 of 10 for Randall.   Bryant hosts Saint Anselm on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., while the Purple Knights return to action on Wednesday as they host Assumption College at 7:30 p.m. at the Ross Sports Center. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002