Bryant Men’s Basketball entered the 2004-05 season fresh off the program’s best season in over 20 years, but with something to prove after coming up a few seconds short from earning a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight the previous year. On a wintry night in Lowell, Bryant’s season came to an end when top seed UMass Lowell hit a last-second basket to claim the regional title, 63-62. Bryant was determined not to let history repeat.
The 2004-05 team opened the year with exhibition games at the University of Maryland and defending national champion UConn Huskies. The strong preseason tests proved beneficial as the Bulldogs won 19 games during the regular season and were selected once again for the NCAA Division II championship regional, this time hosted by Bentley.
The sixth seeded Bulldogs knocked off each of the three regional conference champions, in Adelphi (ECC) in the first round, Bloomfield (CACC) in the semifinals, and rival Bentley, a team that was ranked No. 1 nationally earlier in the season and were the top seed of the regional, 74-64 in the regional championship to punch their ticket to North Dakota for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
Bryant never trailed in all three regional contests. Junior guard John Williams, who scored 27 points in the exhibition game against Maryland and 21 vs. UConn, was named the Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 25.3 points per game, making 10 of 26 three's, and converting 24 of 26 free throws in the three games. He had 28 vs. Bloomfield and poured in 25 against Bentley in the final. NE10 Defensive Player of the Year Mike Williams pulled down 35 rebounds and blocked 19 shots in the three regional tournament games.
At the Elite Eight, hosted by the University of North Dakota, the Bulldogs earned an opening round win over Mount Olive in quarterfinals and followed with a 60-55 win over Tarleton State in the national semifinals to earn the right to play for the Division II National Championship. John Williams had 27 points and Mario Correia added 26 in the win over Mount Olive while John Williams followed with a game-high 25 points on 6-of-10 shooting from three-point range in the win over Tarleton.
In the final, a game that was broadcast live on CBS, the Bulldogs ran into a tough Virginia Union squad. Chris Burns scored a career-high 24 points, but the Panther’s would hold on down the stretch for a 63-58, ending the magical season for the Bulldogs.
The team’s 25-9 record still stands as a high water mark for the program, which transitioned to Division I in 2008. Bryant is also the only NE10 men’s basketball program to reach the NCAA Championship and just one of six to reach the Final Four over the last 40 years of conference play.
Bryant Men's Basketball Links of Note:
- Bryant Men's Basketball Championship Recap
- USA Today Feature
- NCAA Semifinals Recap - Providence Journal
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
