UALBANY MEN'S BASKETBALL UPSETS UTAH, 59-58, FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY
Salt Lake City, Utah - Jamar Wilson hit a fastbreak layup with 34 seconds remaining and Brent Wilson made a key steal in the closing moments, as UAlbany upset Utah, 59-58, on Thursday, Dec. 28 at Huntsman Center.
The Great Danes, who posted their fifth straight victory, built a 48-39 lead midway through the second half on back-to-back three-point field goals by Jason Siggers, who scored a career-high 22 points off the bench. Utah (5-8) would rally with 13 of the game's next 16 points. Stephen Weigh, who netted a career-best 22 on 7-of-9 shooting, drilled a three-pointer, before Daniel Deane hit a 19-foot jumper that tied the contest at 52 apiece.
The game went back-and-forth over the final five minutes. UAlbany (7-4) took a 57-54 lead when Jon Iati made a 22-foot, three-point shot. The Runnin' Utes, who have made 12 NCAA appearances since 1991, then went back in front. Weigh, a 6-foot-6 freshman, sank two free throws and Luke Nevill banked in a 15-foot turnaround under heavy pressure for a 58-57 advantage with 1:24 left.
Nevill, a 7'1" center who had 17 points and seven rebounds, misfired on the left baseline which led to Jamar Wilson's break out for what proved to be the winning points. Brent Wilson, who totaled 22 points and nine rebounds, then came up with two big plays to seal the outcome. Wilson stole the ball off Nevill with eight seconds left and then grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity by Jamar Wilson, who had eight points and took a horrific spill with 44.9 seconds to play in the opening half. He returned after being treated for a neck sprain.
"I am so happy for this team," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad won in an arena where the home team has won 83 percent of its games. "They fought through so much adversity in this game in one of the toughest places to play in the country. [Jason] Siggers and [Brent] Wilson turned in some special performances. We will enjoy this one."
The Great Danes finish their two-game road trip with a game at Utah Valley State on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 9:05 p.m.
"It's definitely great to win whether it's by twenty or by one. Coach [Brown] has been preaching defense all year and it is about time we figured it out. We were scared when Jamar [Wilson] went down with the injury. We just wanted to get it done for him. This is an example of how far this team has come," Brent Wilson said.
