University of Albany Men's Basketball Rallies Past A-East Favorite Boston University - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. -- Tim Ambrose made two free throws with 12.3 seconds remaining as UAlbany rallied for a 62-61 America East Conference victory over Boston University on Thursday, Jan. 8 at SEFCU Arena.

Boston U. (5-8, AE 0-1) took a 60-57 lead when Marques Johnson picked off an errant pass and fed Matt Wolff for a layup. The Terriers, who were playing without Corey Lowe, the conference’s third-leading scorer, due to a suspension, added another point to their margin as Scott Brittain collected an offensive rebounds and made the first of two foul shots.

Ambrose, who broke out of a two-week scoring drought with 19 points and a career-best 11 rebounds, then converted a conventional three-point play on his team’s next possession. Mike Johnson followed up a missed three-point attempt and fed the streaking 6-foot guard, who was fouled by the Terriers’ Jake O’Brien. After UAlbany caused a turnover when Will Harris tied up Brittain in the backcourt, Ambrose was fouled on a move in lane and calmly sank a pair from the line for a 62-61 lead. Wolff’s 16-footer, under pressure from the key, misfired with the clock winding down.
“I just tried to visualize making those (free throws) in situations like that during practice, and then just go out and knock them down,” said Ambrose, who had scored a combined eight points over his last four games. “We just stayed together, tried to executive, and we had a great defensive stop at the end.”

The Terriers, who led by three at halftime, stretched their advantage to 42-34 when John Holland delivered a three-point field goal from the top of the arc off a screen. Holland, last year’s conference rookie of the year, finished with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting.

UAlbany (9-6, AE 1-1) would close the gap to 44-43 when reserve guard Louis Barraza drilled a deep three-pointer from the right wing and Harris split a pair of free throws. Boston U. pushed their advantage back to a comfortable margin when Holland made consecutive baskets. The 6-foot-5 sophomore hit a fastbreak layup and made a step-back jumper in the lane.

The Terriers, who eliminated UAlbany in last year’s overtime nail-biter in the America East tournament’s quarterfinal round, were still ahead 55-50 with 6:14 remaining. But Barraza, who had 11 points off the bench, made both ends of a one-and-one and canned a 3-pointer from straightaway. Boston U. eventually went back in front as O’Brien made a foul shot and Johnson hit a 16-footer from right of the key.

“We had intensity throughout the whole game and it surged through the team,” said Harris, whose squad helped Will Brown record his 100th career victory as head coach. “I was thinking that Tim (Ambrose) was going to make both foul shots and we were going to make a steal, and that’s what happened. We will enjoy the win, but now we have to put together a bunch of one-game win streaks.”

Harris, a 6-foot-6 junior, had 14 points and 10 rebounds, his second consecutive double-double. Brittain added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Terriers, who also played without injured guards Tyler Morris and Carlos Strong.

UAlbany Notes: The Great Danes have matched their best 15-game record as a Division I program with 9-6 won-loss mark ... Will Harris is the first UAlbany player to record back-to-back double-doubles (points/rebounds) since Brian Lillis in January 2008 ... Tim Ambrose posted the first double-double of his career ... Louis Barraza scored in twin figures for the first time since Nov. 17th ... UAlbany registered its third one-point victory of the season, the first time the Great Danes have accomplished that feat at the Division I level.