University of Albany's Ambrose Nets Career-High in Men's Basketball's 80-71 America East Conference Victory - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Tim Ambrose had a career-high 26 points and Will Harris added 20 in leading UAlbany to an 80-71 America East Conference victory over UMBC on Sunday, Jan. 25 at SEFCU Arena.

UMBC (8-11, AE 2-5) rallied from 12 down in the second half to go ahead with 9:44 remaining. Freshman Chauncey Gilliam had nine of his team-high 18 points in that run. Gilliam converted a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a fastbreak layup. He closed the gap to 56-55 by scoring with an offensive rebound and hitting a jumper in the circle. Senior guard Jay Greene then put his team in front with a pair of free throws.

UAlbany (12-8, AE 4-3) went back ahead when freshman Anthony Raffa and Harris canned back-to-back three-point field goals. The Great Danes, who shot a season-best 53.7 percent and made 10 long-range jumpers, extended their margin to 69-63 when Raffa canned another 3-pointer.

Darryl Proctor, a first-team all-conference forward who had 15 points, sliced the deficit to a single basket twice, including a 16-footer from right of lane that got his team within 71-69. But the Great Danes responded with eight of the game’s next nine points. Ambrose, a 6-foot sophomore who had 17 first-half points, sank four consecutive free throws. Harris and Brian Connelly added three more from the line after each corralled rebounds off missed three-point attempts.

“I thought our effort was good and our point guard didn’t turn the ball over,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team was coming off a pair of double-figure losses in league play. “We made some mistakes, but we pushed the ball, attacked and were much more aggressive. We forced (Darryl) Proctor to work for his points and we got some contributions off the bench.”

The Retrievers, who won last year’s America East Conference championship and made their first-ever NCAA appearance, ran off nine unanswered to take a 28-21 lead in the opening half. Matt Spadafora, who had nine points, five assists and four steals, converted a fastbreak opportunity to break a 21-21 deadlock. The early action featured 10 lead changes and five ties.

The Great Danes, who had their seven-game home win streak snapped two days ago, regrouped to go ahead, 35-33, when Ambrose scored in transition. Harris, who extended his double-digit scoring streak to seven straight, then drilled one of his career-best five 3-pointers from the left wing, before Ambrose hit a layup over his head off a fastbreak pass from Raffa. UAlbany took a 44-36 lead to the locker room.

“We are seeing a lot of zone defenses and we can’t stand around on the outside,” offered Ambrose, who made 10 of 14 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds. “I was able to get into the lane and my shots started to drop.”

UMBC’s Greene finished with 16 points, including the 1,000th of his career, and five assists in playing all 40 minutes. Brian Connelly, a 6-foot-8 senior, was the third UAlbany player in double figures with 10 points and nine rebounds.

“We needed to get back on track,” said Harris, who made 5-of-8 from the arc and had seven rebounds after battling the flu over the last 48 hours. “I was trying to be aggressive and help us win. Conference play is a whole new season and we need to continue on from here."