America East Favorite Boston University Defeats Men's Basketball at Agganis Arena

Boston, Mass. - John Holland had 21 points and Jake O'Brien added 19 in leading Boston University to a 79-58 victory over UAlbany in America East Conference play on Tuesday,Jan. 19 at Agganis Arena. The Terriers have won five of their last six contests.

Boston U. (10-9, AE 5-2) broke a 12-12 tie with 10 unanswered. Carlos Strong, a senior guard who scored a season-high 18, and O'Brien canned consecutive three-point field goals. Jeff Pelage followed with a dunk off an inbounds play and an offensive basket to complete the run.

The Terriers, who have the top scoring offense in the conference, extended their margin with a barrage of three-point shots, making of 10 of 14 from beyond the arc in the half. O'Brien drilled back-to-back long-range jumpers for a 31-17 advantage. The sophomore's 24-footer from straightaway pushed the lead to as much as 25 before his team settled for a 46-29 lead at the intermission.

In the second half, UAlbany (6-14, AE 1-4) closed within 55-39 on a pair of foul shots by Scotty McRae. But the Terriers answered with 12 of the game's next 15 points. Holland, the league's leading scorer, nailed a three-pointer, and Strong made two of six 3-point shots in that outburst. Corey Lowe, a first-team all-league guard who totaled 12 points, six assists and five steals, added another field goal from past the arc for a 67-42 lead with 9:00 remaining.

"We struggled defensively with their ability to put four shooters on the floor at the same time," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad has dropped six consecutive road games. "Our team can not trade baskets offensively and they did a number on stopping our top two scorers."

Freshman guard Mike Black was the lone Great Dane in double figures with 10 points, while Logan Aronhalt finished with nine. Will Harris, the team's top scorer at 14.7 points per game, played just 11 minutes and left the game early in the second half after suffering a knee contusion.

The Terriers, who are the preseason favorite to win the conference championship, finished the game by making a 16-of-28 from three-point range. After shooting better than 50 percent overall in the opening half, Boston U. cooled off considerably in the final period.

"They were really hot in the first half," offered Black, who also had four rebounds and three assists. "They made three's from everywhere and hit some tough ones where defenders were on top of them."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information