Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

SMITHFIELD, R.I.— Dyami Starks poured in 25 first-half points and host Bryant (5-3) shot 67 percent in the opening period to build a 21-point cushion en route to a 78-56 win over visiting Binghamton (2-8) Saturday afternoon from the Chace Athletic Center.

After the initial run, Bryant’s lead never shrunk to less than 11 and any second half BU rally was snuffed out after the team opened the period by missing its first five field goals and missing 5-of-6 free throws. The Bulldogs’ margin swelled to as many as 30 midway through the second half, though the Bearcats limited Bryant to 9-of-29 shooting (31%) over the final 20 minutes.

“Starks put on a show in the first half ... we lost track of him and that allowed him to get hot," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “They were much better than us today and we didn't have a lot of answers in that first half. But I liked how we raised our defensive intensity in the second half."

Freshman guard Jordan Reed led BU with 15 points and eight rebounds. Reed entered the game as the leading scorer (18.7 ppg.) and rebounder (10.3 rpg.) in the entire America East.

After BU led 5-3 in the game’s first three minutes, the Bulldogs took over with an 18-2 run that featured four three-pointers. Bryant hit 8-of-12 field goals out of the gate and kept its hot shooting up throughout the decisive first half. Despite shooting a respectable 40 percent, BU was behind by double figures for most of the period. Starks, a transfer from Columbia who didn’t start, exploded for 25 points in 15 minutes of work. He hit 6-of-7 three-pointers and 9-of-11 overall.

Senior guard Jimmy Gray tried to keep the Bearcats in the game with 12 first-half points. Backcourt mate Rayner Moquete was saddled with three fouls in the game’s first 11:18 and wasn’t a factor in the game.

Reed caught fire late in the half and tallied six straight for the Bearcats, helping BU trim its deficit to 13, 35-22, with 5:03 left. But Starks hit a pair of threes in a 1:23 span and Bryant outscored Binghamton 15-9 to carry a 50-31 bulge into intermission.

Gray wound up with 14 points, four assists and two steals. Junior center Roland Brown chipped in nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks and senior wingman Taylor Johnston added seven points on 3-of-5 shooting.

Binghamton departs Monday for a game at No. 3 Michigan Tuesday night in Ann Arbor.