University of Albany Men's Basketball Wins America East Conference Opener in 59-44 Decision Against New Hampshire - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Tim Ambrose scored 16 points in leading UAlbany to a 59-44 victory over New Hampshire in the America East Conference opener for both teams on Sunday, Jan. 2 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes ended a four-game skid in the series.

UAlbany (8-8, AE 1-0) led 32-29 early in the second half, but then took control with a 10-2 outburst. Logan Aronhalt made a one-hander in the lane and a 15-footer from left of the circle to jump-start the run. Ambrose, a 6-foot senior, finished things off with a pair of drives, including a move around a screen, for a 42-31 lead with 12:57 remaining.

The Great Danes, who had lost their conference opener the past three years, still had a double-figure lead five minutes later, but used a 9-4 spurt to wrap up the victory. Blake Metcalf hit a jump hook, moving across the lane from the left, and Ralph Watts connected on a three-pointer from the right wing. Ambrose made a jumper after his team broke full-court pressure and then set up Metcalf for another basket and a 56-41 advantage with 3:25 to play.

"I was pleased with the way this team responded after a tough road trip (losses to Xavier and Wagner)," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad held a conference opponent to its lowest scoring since Jan. 27, 2005. "Our defense was solid and we received contributions off the bench from (Ralph) Watts and (Jake) Lindfors."

UAlbany leaped to a 12-3 at the start when the visitors missed nine of their first 10 field goal attempts. New Hampshire (6-7, AE 0-1) eventually responded with 12 of the game's next 15 points. Dane DiLiegro connected on a conventional three-point play when he was fouled in the lane and Scott Morris followed with a 3-pointer from the right corner.

With the contest tied at 18 apiece, UAlbany forged ahead with a 10-2 run. Freshman Luke Devlin drilled consecutive three-point shots from the top of the arc. After Jake Lindfors sank two free throws, Ambrose made a right baseline jump to end that stretch. The Great Danes settled for a 28-24 halftime lead.

"Our communication was better on defense and we played as a team," offered Ambrose, who extended his double-figure scoring streak to 16 consecutive games. "There are smiles on our face right now, but we still have fifteen more league games to play."

New Hampshire's Tyrone Conley, who became the school's 28th 1,000-point scorer in the game, had a team-high 15 points, while Ferg Myrick added 10 of his 12 points in the opening period. Mike Black scored 11 for the Great Danes, who held UNH to 30.2-percent shooting. John Puk, a 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman, added a career-high nine points and seven rebounds.

"We talked about containing their perimeter (before the game)," explained Puk, who had just a combined five points over his last four starts entering the contest. "We did a good job of communicating (on defense). It's night and day when we do it and when we don't do it."

Paw Prints: UAlbany held New Hampshire to the second-lowest shooting percentage (.302) by an opponent this season ... the Great Danes are now 4-6 in America East Conference openers after dropping three straight ... UAlbany limited UNH to the lowest total by a conference opponent since a 61-42 victory over Hartford on Jan. 27, 2005 ... the Great Danes shot better than 50% from the floor for the sixth time this season ... Tim Ambrose has scored in twin figures in all 16 games this season ... Mike Black has scored in double digits in 10 of 11 games since returning from his ankle injury.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information