Lights-Out Three-Point Shooting From Holy Cross Dooms Men's Basketball in 74-57 Loss
BOX SCORE
ALBANY, N.Y. – Despite forcing a season-high 17 turnovers for the Crusaders, University at Albany men's basketball (2-4) fell 74-57 at SEFCU Arena on Wednesday night. Holy Cross improves its record to 4-1 after making 13 three-pointers.
“I thought Holy Cross did a nice job tonight; they out-competed us,” said head coach Will Brown. “I'm surprised by our lack of energy…I'm disappointed with the way we lost, we can't be out-worked on our own floor.”
Holy Cross started pressing from the first possession of the game, but UAlbany appeared to handle the pressure early. The Crusaders committed three early fouls to go with three turnovers to keep the Great Danes in the game.
Sam Rowley gave UAlbany the lead back, 7-6 with 15:30 to go in the first half. Rowley's jumper put the Purple & Gold at 3-for-5 from the field. With five minutes gone the teams had combined for nine turnovers.
Holy Cross went cold from the field for three minutes to set up a seven-point swing in UAlbany's favor. Rowley scored six points over a two-minute span.
The Crusaders didn't stay down for long, going on an 18-5 run mid-way through the first half. After taking a two-point lead at the 10-minute mark, the Great Danes went 1-for-6 from the field with four turnovers to hand Milan Brown's squad a 15-point lead.
UAlbany went 3-for-8 with six turnovers in the final 10 minutes of the first half to enter the locker room down 41-28 at the break.
Will Brown's squad couldn't find a spark to start the second half, as Holy Cross went 5-for-8 overall and 3-for-4 from three in the initial seven minutes. Evan Singletary made a three and Ray Sanders tacked on two points for UAlbany early in the period.
Mitchell Hahn extended Holy Cross's lead to a game-high 24 points at the 10:49 mark. The freshman went 4-for-4 from three-point range in the second half and led the Crusaders in the second half with 14 points.
In the final 10 minutes of the game, the Great Danes made just four field goals, but went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Sam Rowley concluded the contest with a UAlbany-high 14 points. Wheeler Baker notched 11 behind an 8-for-8 clip from the free throw line and a team-high six rebounds. Hooley had 10 points for his 11th straight regular season game in double figures.
“We have to make some changes,” said Rowley. “It was a reality check, and as players we need to come to the game ready.”
Anthony Thompson and Hahn combined to go a perfect 11-for-11 from the three-point line for the Crusaders.
UAlbany hits the road once again this weekend to face Saint Francis (Pa.) in a 2:00 p.m., Saturday matinee. The Great Danes will remain in the Quaker State to visit Bucknell on Monday night at 7:00 p.m.
