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Smithfield, RI - Bryant shot a blistering 56.3 percent (27-for-48) from the floor en route to posting a 82-59 victory over Wagner in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at the Chace Athletic Center.

With their eighth-straight win, the Bulldogs improve to 13-4 and a perfect 6-0 in the NEC as the Seahawks fall to 9-8 and 3-3  in the league.

Senior Jonathon Williams (Richmond, CA / Kennedy / City College of San Francisco) paced the Green & White with 17 points and nine rebounds while freshman Eric Fanning (Trenton, NJ / Perkiomen (PA)) matched his career-high with 13 points. Narrowly missing double-figures was junior Latif Rivers (Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms (CT)), who had nine points with four rebounds and three assists. The Garden State native now has 951 for his career and is just 49 shy of becoming the 40th member of the school's 1,000-point club.

Early in the second half, Wagner trimmed a 10-point halftime deficit to five at 40-35 with just over 17 minutes remaining thanks to a quick 7-2 spurt. Highlighted in the run was a thunderous Mario Moody (So., East Orange, NJ / East Orange Campus) dunk and a Rivers fast break layup off a steal. Alex Francis would momentarily quell the run, before Fanning answered on the other end. However, from that point on it was all Bryant as the Bulldogs ripped off 11-straight points, while fueling a game-changing 20-2 run over the next 5:43 that extended the lead out to 62-39 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Bryant's advantage would not dip below 20 points the rest of the way as the NEC leaders maintained their hold on the the league's top spot with its first-ever homecourt victory over the Seahawks.

The Bulldogs, which shot a blistering 56.3 percent from the floor, also made good on 50.0 percent (8-for-16) from long range, including 5-of-7 after halftime.

Wagner, meanwhile, converted on just 33.3 percent (20-for-60) from the field, including 19.2 percent (5-for-26) from long range. The Seahawks did however win the battle of the boards by a 36-30 count, including posting a 16-4 advantage on the offensive glass.

In the opening half, Bryant scored the first seven points and never trailed en route to building a 36-26 halftime lead. The Bulldogs shot 55.6 percent (15-for-27) from the floor while limiting the Green & White to just 20.0 percent (6-for-30). Wagner was able to stay in the game thanks to making good on 12-of-14 from the line.

Dyami Starks paced five Bryant players in double-figures with 17 points while Francis notched a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Wagner continues its four-game road trip against Mount St. Mary's on Thursday, January 24 at 7:00 pm.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department, @WagnerHoops for news and updates on the men's basketball program and @bashirmason to follow the Seahawks' first-year head coach.

Photography by Dave Saffran