BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Jan. 22, 2011) – Junior Russell Holloway (Budd Lake, N.J.) posted a game-high 19 points but it was not enough as NYIT men’s basketball fell 84-60 on the road at Bridgeport Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Bears dropped to 6-9 on the year and 4-7 in East Coast Conference play, while the Purple Knights improved to 9-7 overall and 9-2 in league action.

 

Holloway also grabbed a team-best seven rebounds. Senior Daniel Berg (Osteras, Norway) added 11 points for the Bears, while fellow seniors Kris Knez (Astoria, N.Y.) posted nine points and Eric Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) dished out a game-high seven assists and tallied eight points.

 

Four players posted double-digits for the Purple Knights with Andrew Pieters registering a team-best 14 points. Donte Mentor added 13 points, while Jermaine Washington and Msoo Ikyaator each added 10 points. Ikyaator led the game with 13 rebounds.

 

As a team, Bridgeport held a 49-34 margin on the glass, while 49% from the field compared to NYIT’s 37%.

 

The teams exchanged possession early in the first half. Then, a layup from Holloway and a three-pointer from Bernard Brooks (LaGrange, Ga.) put the Bears up 14-8 with 16:40 to play. NYIT continued to have the upperhand even though Bridgeport cut the deficit to one point, 15-14. Knez responded with two made free throws to keep the Bears on top with 13:59 remaining. Yet, the half’s score was kept tight as the Purple Knights earned one-point edges here and there. NYIT fought for a seven-point advantage, its largest lead of the half, on baskets from Holloway, Berg, Brooks, Rob Carroll (Bohemia, N.Y.) and Knez. The Bears led 34-31 going into the break.

 

Back-to-back deuces from Dave Boykin opened the second half for Bridgeport and a three-pointer from Jermaine Washington gave the Purple Knights a four-point advantage, 38-34, just two minutes in. Bridgeport continued to control the scoreboard and claimed a 10-point lead 46-36 on free throws from Moyan Henry at 14:44. The Bears trailed by as much as 13-points with six minutes to play. The three-pointer from Berg and a layup from Knez placed NYIT within eight-points, 66-58. But that was the closest they could get as the Purple Knights produced an 18-0 run that eventually led to the game-winning 84-60 dunk from Henry.

 

NYIT returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 26 when it hosts Dowling College. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at Recreation Hall.