Brown holds off Bryant 76-68 in Rhode Island showdown

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) Justin Massey and Tavon Blackmon each scored 19 points and sealed Brown's 76-68 win over intrastate rival Bryant Saturday.

Massey converted a 3-point play with 4:39 left to give Brown a 16-point lead, 69-52, and Blackmon scored the final eight points, hitting 6 of 8 from the free throw line in the final minute.

Playing at home for the first time in two weeks, Bryant fell behind by 12 points after JR Hobbie hit a Brown 3-pointer with 7:46 left in the first half and trailed by eight points at intermission, 33-25.

Cedric Kaukumenash scored 14 points and Steven Spieth grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Bears (3-5).

Nisre Zouzoua and Hunter Ware scored 18 and 15 points respectively for Bryant (2-7)

Brown won last year in Providence, 69-62, but Bryant had won the two of the last three, including the most recent meeting in Smithfield.