DAYTON, Tenn. – The Bryan College Lions mounted an impressive second-half comeback but ultimately fell short against #24 Georgia Gwinnett, losing 87-78 at Summers Gymnasium on Saturday night.
Trailing 40-29 at halftime, Bryan erupted for 49 second-half points, outscoring the Grizzlies by two in the period, but couldn't overcome the deficit built in the opening 20 minutes.
The Lions showed resilience after intermission, shooting 55.9% from the field in the second half compared to just 34.5% before the break.
Kole Torres led the comeback charge, pouring in 13 of his game-high 19 points after halftime while connecting on three second-half three-pointers.
Ty Gibbs was instrumental in keeping Bryan within striking distance, finishing with 13 points and a team-high six assists. The freshman guard was efficient from the field, making 5-of-7 shots, and distributed the ball effectively throughout the contest.
Jerry Taylor Jr. provided a steady presence off the bench with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while
Trey Morrow added 12 points, including 10 in the second half as Bryan tried desperately to close the gap.
Bryan's slow start proved insurmountable. The Lions managed just 29 first-half points while shooting under 35% from the floor. Georgia Gwinnett, meanwhile, built their lead behind hot shooting, connecting on 50% from beyond the arc in the opening period.
Drew Kramer paced the Grizzlies with a game-high 27 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting, including 6-of-11 from three-point range. Mario Hill Jr. added 18 points and five assists, while Anthony Bittar chipped in 11 points and a game-high six assists.
Bryan was outrebounded 31-35 and committed 15 turnovers compared to Georgia Gwinnett's 11. However, the Lions did find success generating offense off their bench, outscoring the Grizzlies' reserves 34-15.
The loss drops Bryan's record to 5-9 as the Lions continue their season. Bryan will look to bounce back in their next contest as they aim to build on the positive momentum from their second-half performance. The Lions will host the Bears of Truett McConnell on Wednesday as they resume AAC play.
