Bobcats Earn Gritty Road Win at Rio Grande, Move to 2–2
November 6, 2025

Bobcats Earn Gritty Road Win at Rio Grande, Move to 2–2

Video Box Score

RIO GRANDE, OH — November 6, 2025 — Bryant & Stratton (Ohio) men's basketball picked up a hard-fought road victory Thursday night, outlasting the University of Rio Grande 68–66 inside Newt Oliver Arena. The win pushes the Bobcats back to .500 at 2–2 on the season.

After trailing 36–32 at halftime, Bryant & Stratton showed impressive poise down the stretch, outscoring the RedStorm 36–30 in the second half and closing the game with multiple key defensive stops.

Balanced Offense Leads the Way

The Bobcats relied on team balance, with three players scoring 11 or more points.

  • Detric Hearst led the charge with 15 points, knocking down two threes and finishing 6-of-12 from the floor.

  • Phillip Byrd delivered one of his most efficient performances of the year, going a perfect 5-for-5 shooting to total 12 points and 6 rebounds.

  • Tareeq Roper added 11 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals while controlling the tempo in the backcourt.

  • Sam Whitaker III provided a spark off the bench with 8 points and 4 rebounds, while Greg Thurman contributed 8 points.

Bryant & Stratton shot an even 50% from the field, including 38 points in the paint, and forced 17 Rio Grande turnovers turning them into 18 crucial points.

Second-Half Surge

The Bobcats tightened the screws defensively after halftime, holding Rio Grande to just 33% second-half shooting. Big plays from Hearst and Byrd helped B&SC erase the four-point deficit, while timely free throws and strong rebounding from Adeboye Akinode and Whitaker helped close out the final minutes.

Rio Grande's Effort

Rio Grande (1–1) was led by Bransyn Copas, who tallied 16 points off the bench, and Trey Robertson, who added 13 points and 6 assists. Despite 11 made threes, the RedStorm struggled to find efficiency inside the arc, finishing 24-of-58 from the floor.

Coach's Take

"Anytime you go on the road and win a close one, it shows growth. We stayed composed, we defended, and we made the right plays late. Proud of our guys for battling for 40 minutes."

 

Up Next

Bryant & Stratton (Ohio) heads back on the road for their next matchup, traveling to Malone University on Tuesday, November 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST.

 

-Ray Yates