Bryant University Press Release INDIANAPOLIS – The America East Champion and No. 15 seed Bryant men’s basketball will face No. 2 seed Michigan State in the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships South Region on Friday, March 21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Tip i s scheduled for 10:00 p.m. on TBS. Bryant claimed the America East’s automatic bid to the March Madness with a 79-59 victory over Maine on March 15 at the Chace Athletic Center. The Bulldogs will be making their second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years. The winner between the Bulldogs and the Spartans will take on the winner of No. 7 seed Marquette/No. 10 seed New Mexico on Sunday, March 23. The Bulldogs enter the NCAA Tournament at 23-11, setting the DI program single-season record for wins with their victory over Maine. Bryant ranks 17th nationally in scoring offense (82.4), fourth in rebounds per game (41.47), third in blocks (6.0) and 18th in offensive rebounds per game (13.41). Bryant is led by America East Player of the Year Earl Timberlake, who enters the NCAA Tournament as the only player in the nation averaging 15.0+ ppg (15.5), 8.0+ rpg (8.2), 4.5+ apg (4.69) and 1.5+ bpg (1.78). Timberlake also earned America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after averaging 18.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.7 bpg and 2.0 spg in three tournament games. The Bulldogs also feature the league’s second leading scorer in Rafael Pinzon (18.5) and the America East Newcomer of the Year in Barry Evans. Pinzon has posted 12 20-point games and three 30-point outings, while Evans averages 13.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 2.7 apg. Evans was named to the all-tournament team after posting 16.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.0 spg in three postseason games. Bryant’s first NCAA appearance at the Division I level came in 2022 when the Black and Gold won the Northeast Conference and faced Wright St. in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. The Bulldogs fell 93-82 against the Raiders. Michigan State is 27-6 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, falling to Wisconsin. The Spartans have made the NCAA Tournament for the 27th consecutive season. Categories: College Sports, News, Sports Tags: Bryant Bulldogs, Bryant University, March Madness, NCAA Tournament ...read more read less