Purple Knights Hold On To Win Debut For New Head Coach Kranthi “Krunch” Senadhi, 80-77, Over Southern New Hampshire

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport men's basketball team made a winner of new head coach Kranthi "Krunch" Senadhi in his debut as the Purple Knights' bench boss, as UB raced out to a 23-point, 49-26, lead with 1:31 to play in the first half and then held on for a three-point, 80-77, victory over the visiting Southern New Hampshire University Penmen in the 2022-23 season opener for both teams at UB's Conference Crossover Classic in Hubbell Gym.

Bridgeport led 49-34 at half and never trailed in the final 20 minutes of play, but saw the visitors battle back to have chance to tie the game with a final possession, but three-point attempt by SNHU's Noah Kamba was off the mark and Bridgeport's Mason Williams (Sr., Voorhees, N.J.) grabbed the rebound with 0.7 second left to seal the win for the Purple Knights.

Newcomer Matt Turner (Grad., Trumbull, Conn.) led three Purple Knights in double-digit scoring with 16 points, all of which came in the first half.  Matt also led Bridgeport on the glass grabbing a game-high seven rebounds.

Turner was joined in double figures by classmate Malcom Moye (Windsor, Conn.) with 13 points, and Mason Williams added 12 for the winners.

Senior Ali Sumareh (Bronx, N.Y.) played a strong game off the Purple Knights' bench scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds.

Up next, the Purple Knights are right back on the court on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the opening weekend of the season, when UB faces local rival Southern Connecticut State University at 3:00 p.m. in Hubbell Gym to finish the Bridgeport Conference Crossover Classic.