Men's Basketball Falls to Detroit, 66-54, on Second Day of 2K Sports Classic at SEFCU Arena

Albany, N.Y. - Xavier Keeling scored 21 points and Eli Holman added 20 points and 14 rebounds in leading Detroit to a 66-54 victory over UAlbany on the second day of the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, Albany Sub-Regional at SEFCU Arena. Robert Morris posted a 107-76 win against Alcorn State in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Detroit (3-1) reversed a 16-15 deficit in the opening half by reeling off 18 of the game's next 21 points. Keeling hit a slam dunk to put his team in front following Woody Payne's steal. Payne added two free throws and jumper for a five-point cushion. The Titans later ended the outburst when Keeling and Thomas Kennedy each made a pair of foul shots for a commanding 34-19 advantage.

UAlbany (2-3) regrouped to cut that lead in half by the intermission. Logan Aronhalt, a redshirt freshman, canned a three-pointer and Scotty McRae scored after gaining an offensive rebound to bring the margin under double figures. Detroit settled for a 40-33 halftime lead.

In the second half, Jake Lindfors, a redshirt freshman who had a career game with eight points and seven rebounds, split two free throws to get his team within 40-36. Still clinging to a six-point margin midway through the period, the Titans pulled away with seven unanswered. Keeling, who made 10-of-11 from the line, made two free throws. Holman, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound transfer from Indiana University, later put back Payne's missed layup. Payne hit another from the charity stripe for a 54-41 lead.

The Titans, who held their opponent to 30.4-percent shooting after the break, led by as much as 19 with just under five minutes remaining. Payne finished with 10 points, five assists and four steals.

"We had defensive intensity," said Detroit coach Ray McCallum, who is in his second season after previously guided the Ball State and Houston programd. "They run great sets and turn you over. We made them go to their second and third option with constant pressure. Our perimeter defense was good."

Tim Ambrose was UAlbany's lone player in twin figures with 12 points. Mike Johnson and Will Harris added nine and seven points, respectively. Both teams were under the 40-percent mark from the field.

"We struggled to get the ball in the basket and went through a seven- or eight-minute drought in the second half," explained UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team also had 20 turnovers. "We lost to a talented team. (Woody) Payne is a good defensive guard. They were physical with (Will) Harris and (Tim) Ambrose and denied them the ball."

The 2K Sports Classic Sub-Regional concludes on Sunday with Detroit meeting Alcorn State at 2:30 p.m., followed by UAlbany and Robert Morris.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information