Ottawa, Ontario - Logan Aronhalt had 30 points and Blake Metcalf added 13 points and 12 rebounds, as UAlbany pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 91-81 victory over Carleton University on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Ravens' Nest. The Great Danes concluded a five-game, seven-day Canada tour of Quebec and Ontario.
     UAlbany led 68-66 after three quarters, but then ripped off seven unanswered to start the final period. Aronhalt, who made 10-of-19 from the field, sandwiched two free throws and a jumper around Jayson Guerrier's three-point field goal. Aronhalt later made one of his four 3-pointers to extend the lead to 80-68 with 5:49 to play.
     In the second quarter, Carleton, a program that has won five Canadian championships since 2002, trailed by as much as 10, but regrouped to close within 43-41 by halftime. Thomas Scrubb, a 6-foot-5 forward, scored in the lane, before Willy Manigat, who tallied 15 off the bench, drilled a three-pointer. Manigat sank two foul shots with two seconds left before the break.
     Tyson Hinz, a 6-foot-6 forward who had 20 points, tied the contest at 53 apiece in the third quarter with a three-point field goal. Hinz was one of two Ravens returning to the squad after playing for the Canadian national team that recently lost to Serbia in the gold-medal game of the 26th Summer Universiade.
     However, the Great Danes came back with nine of the game's next 12 points. Gerardo Suero, a junior college transfer who netted 14 points, hit a basket and Peter Hooley made a pair of free throws to ignite that stretch. Metcalf, a 6'9" junior, finished off that spurt with a steal and layup for a 62-56 lead.
     "This was a great way to finish our trip," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team won four of the five exhibitions on the tour. "This was the best team we played by far and they would win a lot of games at the Division I level. We were outstanding defensively in the fourth quarter and Peter Hooley and Ralph Watts were terrific handling the ball late in the game. Logan (Aronhalt) carried us in the first half and Blake (Metcalf) had his best game of the trip."
     Phillip Scrubb, a 6'3" guard from British Columbia, led Carleton with 22 points and 10 assists. The Ravens canned 12-of-26 from beyond the three-point arc. Hooley totaled 12 points and five assists for the Great Danes, who shot 51.7 percent from the field.
     "This trip was a great team bonding experience," Brown added. "The group spent a lot of time together on and off the court. They really get along with each other. We need to build off this trip. They have a chance to be very good."

Paw Prints: Carleton University was founded in 1942 as a non-denominational college ... Carleton has 65 programs of study for 25,890 undergraduate students ... a diverse curriculum includes business, public affairs, journalism, film studies, social sciences, engineering, high technology and international studies ... the campus features more than three miles of underground tunnels that link the university's buildings ... Carleton captured five consecutive CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) men's basketball championships from 2002-07 ... head coach Dave Smart, who is in his 12th season, has a 288-29 career record ... Smart has been CIS Coach of the Year three times ... the Ravens have previously played Illinois State, La Salle, Central Florida and Akron, plus face Saint Louis on Aug. 26.

Logan Aronhalt Blog (Aug. 25, 10:15 p.m.) - We had a great win tonight to finish our trip in Canada.  Everyone contributed and we played together.  Blake Metcalf stepped up big tonight and had a double double.  Hopefully we can play like that this season! Too bad the NCAA does not use FIBA rules, because I think this team likes the 24-second shot clock (I know I do).

We didn't do much today besides play the game.  The guys are pretty tired and ready to get back to the states.  I know I need a couple days rest and some home-cooked meals to recover.  We did venture over to a mall near the hotel for some lunch and found a nice little market cafe.  Some of the guys got some new clothes in hope of improving their "swag."  We also got to see the funeral procession of Jack Layton (Leader of Canada's New Democrats who died on Monday after a battle with cancer) pass through downtown.  A sad story like that always brings you back to reality.

I'm definitely going to miss spending so much time with the team.  We really formed a family on this trip and I think it will benefit us for this upcoming season.  I'd really like to thank my teammates for making this trip so special.  Also, a big thanks to Coach Brown and the staff, Jeff (athletic) and Zach (manager) for taking care of us!  Now time for one last night out with the boys and back to the states tomorrow.

UAlbany 91, Carleton University 81 (Aug. 25, 2011 at RAVENS NEST)

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