WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Bryant University got a pair of field goals from kicker Chris Bird but it was not enough as the Bulldogs came up short against Monmouth, 10-6, Saturday in Northeast Conference action.

Jerell Smith rushed for 139 yards on 32 carries while sophomore quarterback Mike Croce completed 8 of 19 passes for 79 yards on a windy afternoon to lead the way for Bryant.

Bryant moved the ball near midfield on its opening possession but the drive ended there when Croce was intercepted by Mike Avent on Monmouth’s 45-yard line. It was just the second interception thrown in 205 pass attempts this season by the Bulldog signal-caller.

Bryant’s defense would make a stand on Monmouth’s ensuing drive, holding fifth-year senior running back David Sinisi, the NEC’s all-time career rushing leader, to just 10 yards on four carries during MU’s possession. With the Hawks on Bryant’s 28-yard line, senior defensive end Don Smith sacked MU quarterback Kyle Frazier for an eight-yard loss and Monmouth would have to punt.

Behind the hard running of senior Smith and junior Mike Canfora, the Bulldogs moved the ball inside the Monmouth 20-yard line looking to capitalize with first-and-10 from the Hawks’ 15-yard line. Smith was stopped for a loss on first down. He got most of the yards back on a 5-yard run on third down but the Bulldogs had to settle for a 27-yard field goal as Bird split the uprights for a 3-0 lead.

Neither team could put points on the board in the second quarter.

Monmouth (4-4, 3-2 NEC) would finally get into the end zone midway through the third quarter as Frazier connected with Sinisi for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 6:51 remaining.

Bryant (3-5 overall, 2-3 NEC) would pull to within one at the end of the third as Bird came through with his second field goal of the game, a 27-yarder with 1:05 left to make it a 7-6 game.

In the fourth, the Hawks added on a 28-yard field goal from Jake Delvento to make it 10-6 and the hosts would hold on from there.

Sinisi would finish with 139 yards on 29 carries while Frazier completed 9 of 23 passes for 126 yards for Monmouth.

Offensively, the game was even. Bryant had 255 yards of total offense while Monmouth gained 262. But it was the Hawks’ defense coming through in the end, picking off three Bryant passes in the game and registering three sacks.

Bulldogs linebacker Jason Riffe had nine tackles (seven solo), while senior defensive end Don Smith had six tackles and two sacks to move into fourth all-time in school history with 17.