UB Opens ECC Men's Basketball Play With 70-57 Road Win Over Dowling

Oakdale, N.Y.-The University of Bridgeport men's basketball team opened its 2011-12 East Coast Conference schedule with a 70-57 victory over the host Dowling College Golden Lions on Wednesday night on Long Island.  With the victory, the Purple Knights' second triumph in a row, UB is now 5-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play.  Dowling is now 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the ECC.

Bridgeport never trailed in the tilt and raced out to a 16-point halftime lead, 34-18, but the Golden Lions battled back to cut the deficit to only two points, 41-39, with 13:33 to play.  UB would then go on a 10-2 run in the next 3:35 of play to put the game away with a 10-point, 51-41 advantage.

Junior Darian David (Bronx, N.Y.) led a balance Purple Knights' attack with a game-high 19 points.  David was joined in double figures by classmate Hakeem Rodriguez (Queensbridge, N.Y.), who had a fine all-around night, with 14 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, plus junior Lloyd Antoine (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior William Harrison (Bronx, N.Y.), each added 10 points.  Antoine notched a double-double grabbing 10 rebounds.  Junior Omari Howard (Bronx, N.Y.) also contributed 10 rebounds for Bridgeport.

Dowling's Leon Taylor led the Golden Lions with 17 points.

The Purple Knights will now take ten days off for exams.  Bridgeport returns to the court versus Mercy College on Saturday, December 17th.   Game time in Hubbell Gym is set for 3:00 p.m.