University of Albany´s Brett Gifford, Will Harris & Tim Ambrose Named Men's Basketball Captains for 2009-10 Season - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, NY. – University at Albany men’s basketball coach Will Brown announced on Monday, June 8 that Brett Gifford, Will Harris and Tim Ambrose will serve as captains for the 2009-10 campaign. The Great Danes return seven letterwinners, including three starters, from a squad that reached the America East Conference’s semifinal round last season.

Gifford, a senior center from Columbia, Mo., started 28 of 31 games played last year. He averaged 2.5 points and 3.9 rebounds, plus blocked a team-high 24 shots and had a .538 field goal percentage. Gifford grabbed six or more rebounds on 11 occasions as a junior. Gifford, who has earned three varsity awards and played in 91 games as a collegian, ranks among the program’s top-20 career shot blockers with 50.

A native of Corona, N.Y., Harris earned a spot on the All-America East Conference third team in his first season with the UAlbany program. He ranked 10th in scoring (12.9 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (6.5 pg) among the conference leaders. Harris, a 6-foot-6 senior, recorded six double-doubles, including an 18-point, 10-rebound performance against Vermont in the America East quarterfinals. He scored in twin figures 22 times and had five 20-plus point games.

Ambrose, a 6-foot guard from Brentwood, N.Y., is the first junior captain since 2005-06. He was ninth among the America East scoring leaders at 14.3 points per game and was voted to the all-conference third team. Ambrose averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 assists, plus led the squad in steals with 35. Ambrose, who received last year’s team most valuable award, scored 20 or more points seven times, including a career-high 29 vs. Vermont during the regular season. He also posted his first career double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds against Boston University. Ambrose was a member of the 2008 America East All-Rookie Team.