University of Albany Sinks Navy in Home Opener, 69-62; Four Great Danes Score in Double Figures - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y.- Junior Gerardo Suero scored 21 points, including the final 6-of-7 free throws to give UAlbany the victory over Navy, 69-62, on Friday, Nov. 25 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes had four players in double figures and shot 44 percent (22-50) from the floor and 35.3 percent (6-17) from beyond the arc.

Suero led all players with 21 points (5-11) and a staggering 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Junior Mike Black tallied 16 points and eight assists followed by Logan Aronhalt (18 points), and Luke Devlin (12 points) also scoring in double figures.

A game that looked like it would have finished up lopsided when UAlbany (3-3) was up by as much as 20 points with 9:39 left to play against Navy (2-4) ended up being a different story to come in the final minutes of the game.

"Being down 20 is nothing, I knew they had fight left in them", said UAlbany head coach Will Brown about the second-half scare. "What happened in both halves is our turnovers came in the wrong times. In the first half our turnovers led to points in for them so they made a run. In the last eight to ten minutes they made a run after turnovers again, but in the end a win is a win."

With 9:39 left to play, Suero knocked in a 15-footer to put the Great Danes up 20. The Midshipmen would go on a 19-4 run to cut the deficit, 63-58, with 1:22 left to play in the game. The spark was led by senior guard Jordan Sugar's seven points in the early run. UAlbany would respond back as Suero finished the game going 6-of-6 from the free throw line and Devlin going 1-of-2 to put the game out of reach, 69-62.

The Great Danes would begin the game with an early lead, 14-7, with 13:40 left to play. Sophomore Devlin looked to have his confidence back ending the half going 4-of-5 from the field and 1-of-1 from beyond the arc. After two lead changes and ties, UAlbany finished out the half with a six point lead, 32-26.

UAlbany looks to continue its home slate on Sunday, Nov. 27 against Fairleigh Dickinson at SEFCU Arena at 4:00 p.m.

Paw Prints: UAlbany and Navy met for the first time on the hardwood ... the Great Danes have won eight of 13 home openers as a Division I program ... Gerardo Suero has scored 20-plus points three times this season ... UAlbany made 10 or more 3-point field goals for the 48th time at the Division I level ... Blake Metcalf grabbed double-figure rebounds for the sixth time as a collegian ... UAlbany is 16-28 all-time against current Patriot League members ... Luke Devlin recorded season-highs in points (12) and rebounds (8) ... Tanner Gibson, a freshman guard, made his first appearance of the year and played 10 minutes off the bench ... Peter Hooley, a freshman from South Australia, is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a stress fracture (foot).