University of Albany Mike Black Nets Career-High 26 Points in Basketball's 81-77 Overtime Win at Maine to End Regular Season - UAlbany Sports 2011

Orono, Maine - Mike Black scored a career-high 26 points and made a pair of three-point field goals in overtime, as UAlbany rallied for an 81-77 America East Conference victory over Maine on Sunday, Feb. 27 in the regular-season finale for both teams at Alfond Sports Arena. The two teams finished in a tie for third place in the league standings.

UAlbany (16-15, AE 9-7) trailed 65-61 with less than one minute remaining. Black, a sophomore guard, canned a three-pointer from left of the key off Luke Devlin's screen. After Maine's Gerald McLemore made one of two free throws, Ralph Watts converted a slam dunk on the right baseline to draw the Great Danes even at 66 apiece. Malachi Peay hit the front of the rim on a runner in the lane at the buzzer.

In the extra period, UAlbany trailed 68-66 before rattling off seven straight. Tim Ambrose, who had 14 points, put back a missed jumper to give his squad the lead. Black nailed a long-range jumper off the dribble from right of the key for a five-point margin. Logan Aronhalt later one-handed an offensive rebound and push the ball out in one motion to Black, who buried a 3-pointer from the top of the arc for a 76-70 cushion. UAlbany held on to its fourth win a row by making five of six free throws.

"We were sleepwalking in the first half," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team owns its highest win total since the 2006-07 campaign. "But we really came out and made plays in the second half. I can't say enough about the way Mike Black played. It's a great way to end the season and now we have some momentum going into the conference tournament."

In the first half, Maine (15-14, AE 9-7) shot 60 percent from the field en route to a 43-33 lead at the break. The Great Danes leaped to a 15-6 advantage when Ambrose and Aronhalt sank back-to-back three-point field goals. But the Black Bears erased that deficit with 15 unanswered. Terrance Mitchell, one of four seniors playing in his regular-season home game, drilled four 3-pointers, all from the right wing, during that outburst. Sean McNally (13 points) scored in transition and Andrew Rogers converted a drive from the top of the key to end the run.

UAlbany was still within striking distance when Blake Metcalf made one of two free throws to close the gap to 29-24. However, the Black Bears would push their advantage to double figures as Troy Barnies hit a jumper from the foul line before driving into the lane to feed Alasdair Fraser for a layup.

The Great Danes, who own their longest win streak in more than two years, trailed by 12 early in the second half before starting a comeback. Black, who made 9-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the three-point arc, delivered two free throws to get his team within 46-44. Maine looked to be back in control with a string of nine straight points

However, Watts, who matched a career-best with 10 points off the bench, made two 3-pointers in a stretch that tighten the contest again. Black would connect on a reverse layup that eventually tied the conference clash at 60 apiece, but McLemore, who had 15 points, immediately regained the lead with a triple from the left corner.

Barnies and Mitchell finished with 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Black Bears, who won a 66-64 decision at SEFCU Arena on Jan. 12. Aronhalt was one of five Great Danes in double figures with 17 points. Devlin, who needed three stitches to close a cut on his head in the opening half, added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Paw Prints: UAlbany (16-15) has won four in a row for the first time since a string of five straight wins, from Nov. 19-Dec. 1, 2008 ... the Great Danes have won at least 15 games in five of the last six seasons ... UAlbany owns its most conference victories since 2007-08 ... the Great Danes have played in 13 games decided by four points or less this year ... UAlbany also split four overtime games ... freshman Luke Devlin recorded his sixth career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds ... Blake Metcalf grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds, his third time in twin figures as a collegian ... Ralph Watts also had 10 points against Binghamton on Jan. 20 ... UAlbany ended a three-game skid in the Maine series and avenged a two-point loss earlier this season ... UAlbany will be the No. 4 seed for upcoming America East Conference Championship and will meet Stony Brook on Saturday, March 5 in the quarterfinals at 12 noon ... Stony Brook ended the regular season with a 67-42 home win against Binghamton.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information