SMITHFIELD, R.I. –– A late first-half run provided a cushion Bryant (5-4) would not give up in a 60-45 victory over the Navy (4-4) men's basketball team, Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, R.I.
 
"I just don't think we played very well at all," said Navy head coach Ed DeChellis.  "We shot the ball very poorly and we made a lot of mental mistakes.  We fouled a three-point shooter three times, we had breakaway layups on which we turned the ball over; we just didn't play very well and didn't execute at all."
 
Neither team held a lead of any significance for the majority of the first half.  John Carter Jr. (So., Spring Hill, Tenn.) continued his hot shooting in the first part of the stanza as he drained a trio of three-point field goals to stake the Mids to an 18-15 lead with 7:10 remaining in the first half.  However, Carter picked up his second foul of the game on the ensuing Bryant possession.  He was 3-6 from the field and the rest of the team was a combined 4-15 when he went to the bench. 
 
Carter re-entered the game with 4:11 showing on the clock and Navy on defense while clinging to a 20-19 lead.  He was whistled for his third foul while contesting a three-point attempt 18 seconds later.  From there, the Bulldogs closed the half on a 13-4 run to take a 32-24 lead at the break.
 
Navy whittled the margin down to five points –– 34-29 – early in the second half, but Bryant scored the next five points as part of a 12-2 run that gave it a 46-31 lead with 10:14 remaining.  The Navy deficit remained at least 10 points over the rest of the game.
 
"It is very frustrating for our guys because they can play a heck of a lot better," said DeChellis.  "I just witnessed it Saturday (when Navy defeated Brown, 76-56).  Tonight was a 180 from Saturday.  We just couldn't make a basket."
 
Both teams made nine second-half field goals, but the Bulldogs held a 4-3 edge in three-point field goals made and a 6-0 advantage in made free throws after halftime.
 
Bryant ended the game shooting 43.8 percent from the floor, made seven three-point field goals and was 11-15 from the foul line.  Navy made 31.7 percent of its shots on the night, sank six triples and was 1-6 from the free throw line.
 
Each team committed 13 turnovers, but the Bulldogs were the more opportunistic team as they held a 12-3 advantage in points scored after those turnovers. 
 
Navy held a 39-34 edge on the glass and Bryant held an 8-1 advantage in blocked shots.  All eight blocks were recorded by Hal Elisias.
 
Carter and Evan Wieck (Sr., Amarillo, Texas) each scored 12 points for the Mids.
 
Navy will return home for a Saturday night game against Marist.
 
"We go back home, try and get better and try and be more consistent," said DeChellis.  "We had an opportunity to win this game.  It was 22-22 and we made two defensive mistakes that led to their taking an eight-point lead.  We have to play a little smarter."