Men's Basketball Defeated By Boston U., 68-53, in 13th Annual Big Purple Growl Game

Albany, N.Y. - Carlos Strong scored a season-high 24 points to pace three players in double figures in leading Boston University to a 68-53 victory over UAlbany in America East Conference play on Saturday, Feb. 6 at SEFCU Arena. More than 4,400 fans, the largest crowd of the season, watched the second half of the 13th annual Big Purple Growl, the school's winter homecoming.

Boston U. (13-11, AE 8-4) took control of the game at the start of the final period by ripping off 11 unanswered. Strong, a 6-foot-3 senior, scored the first eight in that run, including a pair of three-point field goals from the left corner. He also added a slam dunk off a turnover and John Holland drilled another three-pointer for a 45-26 lead.

UAlbany (6-20, AE 1-10) sliced the deficit to 50-39 when freshman guard Mike Black made two free throws. But the Terriers pulled away for good with a 9-4 run. Strong dunked with two hands after picking off an errant pass and Jake O'Brien canned a three-point field goal for a 59-43 cushion midway through the half.

"They have a talented class of seniors and a good group of juniors," UAlbany coach Will Brown said. "The story was they got 24 points off our turnovers. We don't have an offense that can trade baskets."

The Terriers, who were picked as the preseason favorite to win the conference title, built a 34-26 halftime lead. Boston U. led 18-16 before scoring eight of the game's next 10 points. Holland, who had 18 points and six rebounds, made a three-point play as he was fouled on a move in the lane. Jeff Pelage added an offensive rebound basket and Strong hit a floater in the lane for an eight-point margin.

The Great Danes closed to within 28-25 when redshirt freshman Jake Lindfors, who had seven points and seven rebounds off the bench, scored with a third-chance opportunity on the offensive glass. But Corey Lowe drilled a 15-footer from right of the lane and O'Brien made two foul shots to regain the momentum.

"The run at the start of the second half slowed us down," Lindfors offered. "We played with energy but our defense and offense has to get better. We want to win. We just need a win to get our confidence going."

Black matched a career-high with 18 points and added four rebounds and four assists for the Great Danes, who dropped their seventh straight. UAlbany shot 33 percent and committed 21 turnovers. O'Brien was the third BU player in twin figures with 10.

Paw Prints: More than 4,000 fans attended Big Purple Growl for the sixth consecutive year ... the Great Danes have a 9-4 record in Big Purple games ... UAlbany's losing streak is its longest since the 2003-04 campaign ... Tim Ambrose was honored prior to the contest after becoming the 30th player in the program's history to score 1,000 points ... Ambrose left the game in the second half with a back contusion ... Jake Lindfors tied a career-best with seven rebounds, while Scotty McRae (5 points, 6 rebounds) blocked a career-high four shots.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information