Published: January 31, 2008

Returning from the second road trip of the season, the Fordham University basketball Rams knew there was plenty of work to be done. In the last three road contests, the streaky Fordham team fell to Georgetown University, Duquesne University and Xavier University but came home to beat George Washington University in a convincing victory. The road losses looked, on paper, as ugly as any other, but the brilliant play of forward Bryant Dunston, FCRH ’08, made the contests bittersweet. After two excellent performances in losses to Duquesne and Xavier, Dunston earned the PrestoSports/Met Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week award.

Dunston could not fully enjoy the award, however, as it centered on his performance during losses.

“I will try my best to continue playing with heart, and hopefully, if I am picked Player of the Week again, it will be because I contributed [to] the team’s winning efforts,” said Dunston.

Dunston scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in both losses, but it was Dunston’s defensive presence that was most impressive. The 6’8” forward from Queens had eight blocks against Duquesne and three against Xavier. This tied him with Damon Lopez as Fordham’s all-time leading blocker, with 258.

“For Bryant [Dunston] to play that well against a great team like that says a lot about him,”
fellow senior forward Michael Binns, FCRH ‘08, said.

After a pair of well-played games, Dunston could only put his team first in a season that has been up and down in terms of wins.

“I’m about the team, and those games that I played well in, we still lost,” Dunston said.

His play must be making some kind of impact, as the team defeated Duquesne in a rematch where Dunston recorded another double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds, in addition to three more blocks, giving him sole possession of the Fordham all-time record with 261.

“It’s been an honor knowing him for this long and playing alongside him,” Binns said. “His game has been growing since I’ve known him.”

“We would love if this award gives the rest of our guys [the] confidence to start a good run,” added assistant coach Jared Grasso, speaking of the intangibles that Dunston gives to this basketball team.

Coming home to play George Washington, Dunston again recorded a double-double, totaling 12 points and 11 rebounds. After a scare in which he limped into the locker room in pain, Dunston would return in the second half to lead the Rams to their first A-10 win. Although his numbers were not as impressive as his totals from the previous week, one could argue that perhaps just his presence was enough to lift the Rams.

That’s the kind of play Dunston can be proud about.