What a Saturday for Bryant's basketball teams. The Bulldogs went to Waltham to play archrival Bentley for perhaps the last time and returned to Smithfield with two one-point losses that Bryant die-hards will be talking about for a long time.

In the men's game, the Bulldogs came within a layup of upsetting undefeated and top-ranked Bentley. Cecil Graham's 3-pointer with seconds to play gave Bryant a 68-67 lead, but Bentley's Yusig Abdul-Ali made a driving layup at the buzzer for a 69-68 triumph. It was Bentley's 50th consecutive Northeast-10 victory and its 58th in its last 59 games since a double-overtime loss to Bryant.

Chris Birrell (Scituate) and Jon Ezeokoli each scored 17 points and Graham 14. Graham had scored 36 points, burying eight 3-pointers, earlier last week in a victory over Saint Anselm. Bryant, ranked No. 6 in the region, dropped to 12-9, 8-8. Bentley improved to 20-0, 15-0.

In the women's game, Bryant mounted a furious 14-point rally at the end of the game but fell a point short, 59-58. Freshman Lindsey Hudspeth sparked the run with three 3-point baskets. The Bulldogs are 14-7, 9-7.

Both Bryant teams are at Franklin Pierce tonight.

-MIKE SZOSTAK