University of Albany Basketball's Tim Ambrose Receives SEFCU Most Valuable Player Award for 2008-09 Season - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Tim Ambrose received the men’s basketball team’s most valuable player award, as presented by SEFCU, at the program’s annual postseason awards dinner on Thursday, April 23 at the SEFCU Arena Athletic Hall of Fame Room. Mike Johnson was voted the Richard “Doc” Sauers most improved award, Jerel Hastings was awarded top defender, and Brian Connelly earned the academic award.

Ambrose, a 6-foot sophomore, ranked ninth among the America East Conference scoring leaders at 14.3 points per game. He averaged 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists, plus led the team in steals (35). Ambrose was named third-team all-conference.

A native of Brentwood, N.Y., Ambrose scored in double figures on 22 occasions, including a career-high 29 against Vermont on Feb. 7. He did all of his scoring in the second half to equal the program’s one-half standard that was established in 1955-56. Ambrose also recorded the first career double-double of his career with a 19-point, 11-rebound performance in a 62-61 victory over Boston University on Jan. 8.

Johnson, a junior guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., transferred to UAlbany from Blinn College in Texas. He contributed 3.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and a team-leading 2.8 assists in 30 appearances. Johnson came on in the final month of the season when he averaged 3.7 points and 3.6 assists over the final 12 games. A starter in the last five contests, Johnson was a key figure in his team’s upset of regular-season champion Vermont in the America East quarterfinal round. He accounted for eight points, five assists and a career-best 10 rebounds. He had five or more assists against seven opponents.

Hastings, a senior from Dallas, Texas, was selected to the 2009 America East All-Defensive Team. He averaged 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds, while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor. He produced his first double-double as a collegian with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a late February win against Maine.

A senior forward from Audubon, N.J., Connelly has a 3.15 cumulative grade point average in business administration. He was named to the America East All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year. Connelly totaled 8.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 31 starting assignments. He finished his career with 750 points and more than 400 rebounds.

UAlbany (15-16) reached the 15-win mark the fourth consecutive season, the first time the Great Danes have accomplished that mark since 1995. Head coach Will Brown returns seven letterwinners and two redshirt freshman, plus has signed five high school standouts for the 2009-10 campaign.