UB Men's Hoops Tops Goldey-Beacom, 63-59, In 2021-22 Season Opener

Bridgeport, Conn.-A clutch three-point basket by newcomer Mason Williams (Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.) with 1:07 to play in regulation gave the University of Bridgeport men's basketball team a 58-56 lead which they never relinquished, as the Purple Knights topped the visiting Lightning of Goldey-Beacom College, 63-59, on Saturday afternoon in the 2021-22 season opener for both teams at the annual University of Bridgeport Men's Basketball Conference Crossover Classic in Hubbell Gym.

Sophomore Ryo Kobayashi (Kanagawa, Japan) led UB in scoring on Saturday with 14 points.  He was joined in double figures by Mason Williams with 13 points and Tim Dawson (So., New Haven, Conn.) with 12.  Dawson also led Bridgeport with four assists on the day.

Graduate student Nemanja Zubac (Becka Palanka, Serbia) had a stellar season opener on defense for the winners, as he grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds (nine on defense), blocked three shots and had a team-best five steals.

Tyler Jones of Goldey-Beacom led all scorers in the game with 19 points.

Both teams struggled shooting the basketball in their season openers, UB shot only 32.3 percent in the game (20-of-62), and GBC was just a tad better at 34.7 percent from the floor (25-of-72, but the Lightning connected on only 2-of-21 three-point shots (9.5 percent).

Up next, the UB men's basketball team will be right back on the hardwood in Hubbell Gym on Sunday wrapping up the season's opening weekend with a 3:00 p.m. tilt versus Post University to close out the University of Bridgeport Men's Basketball Conference Crossover Classic.  Post fell to Southern Connecticut State, 86-82, in overtime in Saturday's opening game.