FRANKLIN, Mass. – The Dean College men's basketball used a dominating second-half performance to post a 90-63 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Thursday evening at Pieri Gymnasium.
The host Bulldogs wrap up a five-game homestand as they improve to 4-2 on the 2018-2019 campaign. The Bears, still in search of the their first win of the season, fall to 0-5.
Dayvon Russell (Naugatuck, Conn.) led all scorers with 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting to go along with nine assists and five steals, while Josh Croskey (Union, N.J.) posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Croskey also added five assists and a pair of blocked shots. Armani Baker (Pawtucket, R.I.) checked in with ended with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Rayshon Ward (Fayetteville, N.C.) led the Bears with 17 points and five rebounds and Nick Crocker (East Falmouth, Mass.) added 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Brian Grant (Hyde Park, Mass.) came off the bench to notch nine points in just ten minutes on perfect 4-for-4 shooting.
Dean was out in front of the Bears early on after a 17-2 run that featured three-pointers from Randolf Thurman (Swampscott, Mass.), Russell and D'caran Anderson (Compton, Calif.) and a steal and finish from Brandon Szlaien (Buenos Aires, Argentina), making the score 34-20.
Bridgewater State answered back with a 16-4 burst of their own behind a pair of three-pointers from Ward and five points from Jose Monteiro, Jr. (Brockton, Mass.).
The Bulldogs did get a basket from De'marquez Hadnot (Pflugerville, Texas) to go into halftime in front, 40-36.
Russell kick-started the Dean offense in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring the Bulldogs' first seven points. When Croskey dropped in a short jumper and then had a dunk on the next possession, the hosts extended their lead to 52-40 at the 14:30 mark.
Dean's advantage continued to balloon on back-to-back baskets from Baker and a Jordan Booker (Waterbury, Conn.) three-pointer. The offense kept clicking for Dean and when Russell drilled another three-pointer and Oswaldo Terrazas (Odessa, Texas) scored inside, the Bulldogs' were ahead 74-53 with less than six minutes to play.
Bridgewater State never got closer than 19 the rest of the way and the Dean lead peaked at 27 late in the contest.
Dean shot 56 percent from the field, including a sizzling 66 percent in the final 20 minutes. The Bulldogs had 25 assists attached to their 40 baskets and held a 38-29 edge on the glass.
Bridgewater shot 44% (25-57) from the floor but just 5-for-23 (22%) from behind the arc. The Bears were outscored 50-27 in the second half.
Both teams are back in action on the road on Saturday with Bridgewater State traveling to Becker, while Dean visits Wheaton.