DAYTON, TN – The Bryan Lions came up short in a hard-fought battle against visiting Reinhardt, falling 67-61 Wednesday evening at Summers Gymnasium.

The Lions struggled to find their offensive rhythm early, shooting just 35.5% from the field in the first half and going scoreless from beyond the arc (0-for-10). Reinhardt capitalized on Bryan's cold shooting to build a 34-27 halftime advantage.

Derek Curtis paced the Lions with 13 points and five assists, displaying consistency throughout the contest. Ty Gibbs provided a spark off the bench, scoring 14 points on efficient 6-of-11 shooting, including a pair of crucial second-half three-pointers that helped Bryan mount a comeback attempt.

Bryan's second-half adjustments nearly erased the deficit. The Lions improved their field goal percentage to 42.9% after intermission and finally found their range from deep, connecting on 3-of-10 three-point attempts. The bench contributed 30 points, with Jerry Taylor Jr. adding eight points and three blocks in the effort.

The Lions dominated the paint with 42 points compared to Reinhardt's 28, and forced 17 turnovers while committing only nine. However, Reinhardt's Tee Williams proved unstoppable, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Derrick Brown added 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Eagles.

Bryan's struggles from the free-throw line (60%) and three-point range (15% overall) ultimately proved costly. The Lions also were assessed a technical foul late in the game that gave Reinhardt additional free-throw opportunities.

Regale Moore contributed four assists off the bench, while Terrell Reeves added six points, four rebounds, and two blocks in the defensive effort.

Bryan will look to bounce back in their next contest as they continue their season. They will host Johnson in a home contest on Saturday at 4:00 pm.