University of Albany Wins 88-82 Overtime Affair in Capital Region Basketball Rivalry Against Siena - UAlbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. - Mike Black scored the go-ahead basket in overtime in leading UAlbany to an 88-82 victory over Siena on Saturday, Dec. 4 before 10,753 fans at the Times Union Center. The Great Danes ended a five-game skid in the Capital Region series and won for the first time since 2004.

Siena (2-5) rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half to force the extra period. UAlbany's Tim Ambrose, who had 27 points and grabbed seven rebounds, gave his team a 58-46 lead with a three-point field goal from right of the key. The Saints regrouped with 16 of the game's next 19 points to go in front. Trenity Brudine and OD Anosike each had three-point plays in that run when they were fouled in transition. Ryan Rossiter's reverse layup gave his team a 62-61 lead.

UAlbany (4-5) regained the lead on Logan Aronhalt's 10-foot jumper. The Great Danes pushed out to a 69-64 advantage on consecutive baskets by Blake Metcalf. The 6-foot-9 sophomore hit a slam dunk and then scored on off a backcut, both passes from Ambrose. The Saints responded with eight unanswered and went ahead on Davis Martens' follow shot off the glass and Burdine's basket after collecting a loose ball. UAlbany's Logan Aronhalt later drew his team even at 72 apiece by making one of two foul shots. Martens blocked John Puk's second-chance effort in the lane and Siena's Rossiter missed a three-pointer with 1.6 seconds left to end regulation.

In a game that featured 18 lead changes, including seven in overtime, Burdine made two free throws to give the Saints an 80-79 margin with 1:28 to play. However, Black drilled a right baseline jumper and followed with a steal and a conventional three-point play when he was fouled by Clarence Jackson. Rossiter, who had 28 points and 13 rebounds, sliced the deficit to 83-82 as he made a three-point play off a drive from the foul line. The Great Danes stayed ahead by sinking five of six free throws over the final 29 seconds.

"That was a gutsy effort," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team suffered a 29-point loss in last year's meeting. "Siena is a good team and we were able to weather the storm. This is a young team who made some plays in a tough environment. Tim Ambrose is really playing well and hasn't forced action. I am proud of him."

The Great Danes led 23-20 in the first half, before building a double-figure lead with a 10-1 run. Metcalf, who had a career-high 11 points off the bench, scored on the right baseline and Puk hit a left-handed hook in the lane. Ambrose added two free throws and a jumper, before Metcalf put back the 6-foot senior's miss in the lane after a steal. UAlbany led 33-21 and eventually settled for an eight-point halftime cushion.

"This is a good moment for the team and the campus," said Ambrose, who made 9-of-18 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the line. "We finally did it. I hate losing, that's just in my blood. Both teams played their hearts out. They came back and we had to come back after them."

Aronhalt finished with 24 points, his fourth 20-plus game of the season, while Black added 16, including 12 in the final half. Siena's Burdine and Jackson scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Paw Prints: UAlbany and Siena met for the 50th time in a series that dates back to Jan. 5, 1940 ... the two teams have played five overtime games in the series, including three since the series was renewed in 2001 ... UAlbany posted its first overtime win against Siena since Feb. 25, 1967 ... the Saints won in OT in both 2005 and 2006 ... Ryan Rossiter became the 36th Siena player to score 1,000 points and his 28-point performance is the highest total by a Saint in the Division I era of the series ... the Great Danes' 88 points were the most be either program since the series was renewed ... Tim Ambrose moved past Brent Wilson (basketball operations director) into 16th place on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,204 career points ... Ambrose scored 20-plus in a game for the 17th time as a collegian ... more than 10,000 attended the annual battle for the fifth consecutive year.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information