ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany men’s basketball (16-14) came out swinging on Saturday night, downing the No. 5 seed UMBC 86-56 at SEFCU Arena in the America East Quarterfinals. Peter Hooley scored 30 points on 12-for-16 shooting to lead the Great Danes.
The Retrievers went 2-for-14 from the field in the opening eight minutes, while UAlbany went 3-for-3 from three, including two threes from Hooley. Dallas Ennema extended UAlbany’s lead to 15 points, 20-5, on a three soon after.
Hooley had 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting before committing his second foul with 9:42 left in the first half. The sophomore would remain on the bench for the duration of the half.
The Purple & Gold went on a 14-0 run mid-way through the first half. The Retrievers went scoreless for nearly seven minutes. At the under-eight media timeout, UMBC was just 4-for-22 (.182) from the field while the Great Danes were 10-for-17 (.589).
America East Rookie of the Year Rodney Elliott wouldn’t go away quietly, scoring five-straight points to narrow UAlbany’s lead back to 15 with six minutes left in the half.
Sam Rowley responded with six points of his own. The junior was perfect on offense in the first half, going 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line for 12 points.
John Puk made his presence known in the low block to end the half, scoring four points to give UAlbany a 38-17 lead at the break.
At the half, Rowley led UAlbany with 12 points. The Purple & Gold out-scored the Retrievers 22-4 in the paint in the opening 20 minutes.
The Great Danes opened the second half in dramatic fashion, as DJ Evans found Gary Johnson on an alley-oop for Johnson’s first points of the game. UAlbany went 7-for-8 (.875) from the field in the opening six minutes of the second half.
With eight minutes left in the game, four Great Danes were in double figures, including Hooley (22), Rowley (15), Puk (11) and Evans (10).
Hooley hit a three with 6:10 left to give UAlbany a 76-43 lead and tally his 30th point. With the basket, he became the seventh Division I Great Dane to score 30 points in a single game. A UAlbany player has scored more than 30 points in a single game just eight times. The sophomore is also the first America East player to score 30 points in a tournament game in three years. Hooley played just 20 minutes of the game, having sat out most of the first half with foul trouble.
UMBC only dressed seven players for the America East Quarterfinal match-up against UAlbany.
Five UAlbany players ended the game in double figures, Hooley (30), Rowley (15), Puk (11), Anders Haas (11) and Evans (10). Haas and Hooley recorded career highs in points.
With the win, UAlbany will face off against familiar America East foe Vermont (22-9) in the league semifinals tomorrow at 5:00 p.m., at SEFCU Arena.
AMERICA EAST TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 8 - Quarterfinals
No. 1 Vermont 77, No. 8 New Hampshire 60
No. 4 UAlbany 86, No. 5 UMBC 56
No. 2 Stony Brook vs. No. 7 Maine, 6:00 p.m. - ESPN3
No. 3 Hartford vs. No. 6 Binghamton, 30 mins following - ESPN3
Sunday, March 9 - Semifinals
Semifinal #1, No. 1 Vermont vs. No. 4 UAlbany, 5:00 p.m. – ESPN3
Semifinal #2, 30 mins following - ESPN3
Saturday, March 15 - Title Game
Semifinal Winners - 11:30 a.m. - ESPN2
Hooley had 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting before committing his second foul with 9:42 left in the first half. The sophomore would remain on the bench for the duration of the half.
The Purple & Gold went on a 14-0 run mid-way through the first half. The Retrievers went scoreless for nearly seven minutes. At the under-eight media timeout, UMBC was just 4-for-22 (.182) from the field while the Great Danes were 10-for-17 (.589).
America East Rookie of the Year Rodney Elliott wouldn’t go away quietly, scoring five-straight points to narrow UAlbany’s lead back to 15 with six minutes left in the half.
Sam Rowley responded with six points of his own. The junior was perfect on offense in the first half, going 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line for 12 points.
John Puk made his presence known in the low block to end the half, scoring four points to give UAlbany a 38-17 lead at the break.
At the half, Rowley led UAlbany with 12 points. The Purple & Gold out-scored the Retrievers 22-4 in the paint in the opening 20 minutes.
The Great Danes opened the second half in dramatic fashion, as DJ Evans found Gary Johnson on an alley-oop for Johnson’s first points of the game. UAlbany went 7-for-8 (.875) from the field in the opening six minutes of the second half.
With eight minutes left in the game, four Great Danes were in double figures, including Hooley (22), Rowley (15), Puk (11) and Evans (10).
Hooley hit a three with 6:10 left to give UAlbany a 76-43 lead and tally his 30th point. With the basket, he became the seventh Division I Great Dane to score 30 points in a single game. A UAlbany player has scored more than 30 points in a single game just eight times. The sophomore is also the first America East player to score 30 points in a tournament game in three years. Hooley played just 20 minutes of the game, having sat out most of the first half with foul trouble.
UMBC only dressed seven players for the America East Quarterfinal match-up against UAlbany.
Five UAlbany players ended the game in double figures, Hooley (30), Rowley (15), Puk (11), Anders Haas (11) and Evans (10). Haas and Hooley recorded career highs in points.
With the win, UAlbany will face off against familiar America East foe Vermont (22-9) in the league semifinals tomorrow at 5:00 p.m., at SEFCU Arena.
AMERICA EAST TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 8 - Quarterfinals
No. 1 Vermont 77, No. 8 New Hampshire 60
No. 4 UAlbany 86, No. 5 UMBC 56
No. 2 Stony Brook vs. No. 7 Maine, 6:00 p.m. - ESPN3
No. 3 Hartford vs. No. 6 Binghamton, 30 mins following - ESPN3
Sunday, March 9 - Semifinals
Semifinal #1, No. 1 Vermont vs. No. 4 UAlbany, 5:00 p.m. – ESPN3
Semifinal #2, 30 mins following - ESPN3
Saturday, March 15 - Title Game
Semifinal Winners - 11:30 a.m. - ESPN2
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