SMITHFIELD, RI – Preseason All-America East selection Keegan Harvey posted a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds as Bryant rallied past Siena Basketball 80-75 on College Basketball Opening Night at Chace Athletic Center.
Harvey scored eight of his 15 second-half points during a decisive 10-2 run over 2:24 down the stretch, opening the Bryant lead to as many as nine at 74-65 with 1:50 remaining. Onyx Nnani added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs, which improved to 65-17 in Smithfield since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Freshman Tim Ibukunoluwa followed up an impressive exhibition with a double-double in his official collegiate debut, posting 20 points and 14 rebounds for Siena. Classmate Trent Egbiremolen added 15 points for the Saints, who had won six of their previous seven openers, including four straight.
Opening against Bryant for the second consecutive season, Siena led for nearly 26 minutes and by as many as 11 points at 35-24 with 5:21 left in the first half on a Pace Prosser personal five-point possession. The Preseason All-Metro Second Team selection finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists in his Saints debut.
But the Bulldogs responded with the ensuing six points and pulled within 41-37 at the break.
Reserve Roi Behar drained a three to give Bryant its first lead since early in the first half at 50-49 with 12:46 to go. The Bulldogs mostly led thereafter, leading into the late takeover from Harvey to spoil the debut of new Siena Head Coach Nevada Smith.
The Saints shot just 38% from the field and 6-27 (22%) from three, including only 1-11 in the second half. Siena attempted 32 free throws overall, but misfired on 10 of their 23 second-half attempts in the narrow defeat.
Reserves Duane Thompson (14) and Behar (13) combined for 27 points off the bench for second-year Bryant Head Coach Jamion Christian, who led the Saints during the 2018-19 season.
Siena will now have six days before its 2026-27 regular season home debut. The Saints host Princeton in the front end of a doubleheader with the Siena women Sunday at 1 p.m. at MVP Arena.