University of Albany M Basketball Posts Third Straight Win in 83-67 Triumph Over UMBC - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Logan Aronhalt had 19 points to pace four players in double figures, as UAlbany posted its third consecutive win in an 83-67 triumph over UMBC in America East Conference play on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany (15-15, AE 8-7) came out flying at the start by making 10 of its opening 16 field goal attempts en route to a 28-8 lead midway through the period. The Great Danes ripped off 14 straight points for an 18-3 advantage. Aronhalt, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, made a three-pointer from the top of the arc and hit a one-hander on the right baseline. Tim Ambrose sank a turnaround bank in transition and slammed an offensive rebound off a missed shot.

UMBC (5-24, AE 4-12) tried to claw their back into the contest before halftime. Brian Neller made a 15-footer from the right elbow, before a driving Chris De La Rosa found Adrian Satchell for another basket. Justin Fry's left-hander in the lane closed the gap to 41-28, but UAlbany's Billy Allen buried a three-pointer from the right wing.

"We came out with energy and enthusiasm," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team locked up the fourth seed for upcoming America East Conference postseason tournament. "It wanted to send our seniors out on a good note. We have some momentum with the three-game win streak."

The Great Danes built their lead back to 53-32 early in the final period after Luke Devlin, a freshman who had 12 points and six rebounds, made a 3-pointer. UMBC's De La Rosa, who led all scorers with 25 points, keyed a string of eight in a row with back-to-back long-range jumpers. Still leading 53-40, UAlbany pulled away with eight of the game's next nine points. Aronhalt ignited that stretch with a turnaround on the left baseline, an offensive rebound basket and two free throws. Mike Black's jumper handed his team a 20-point advantage.

"I gave all my energy and effort for our seniors," offered Black, whose team is in fourth place and one game behind Maine in the standings. "This is really our first year as a team and we are developing chemistry."

UAlbany's Black finished with 18 points, while Tim Ambrose, a senior playing in his final regular-season home game, totaled 17 points, seven assists, matching his career-best, and seven rebounds. The Great Danes shot a season-best 54.5 percent from the field.

"I was a little emotional but I knew I had a game to play," explained Ambrose, who was honored in a pre-game ceremony along with Billy Allen and Fran Urli. "It's an exciting way to go out in your last game. We made the extra pass and played good defense tonight."

Paw Prints: UAlbany has earned the No. 4 seed for next week's America East Conference Championship ... the Great Danes will play Stony Brook in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 5 at 12 noon ... UAlbany (15-15) has eight more wins than last year's squad and could tie Maine for third place in the league standings with a win in the regular-season finale ... Tim Ambrose, who is fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,544 points, Billy Allen and Fran Urli were recognized in a pre-game ceremony on Senior Night ... Allen had three points and four rebounds in his first starting assignment of the season ... Urli, a 6-foot-8 forward, has been injured and unable to play this season ... Mike Black's 18 points were one off his career-high ... the sophomore guard has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 12th ... Logan Aronhalt reached twin figures for 21st time this year.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information