Non-Conference Winning Streak Ends for Men's Basketball at Niagara
BOX SCORE
LEWISTON, N.Y. – With eight days since its last contest, University at Albany men's basketball (5-7) couldn't carry the momentum of a three-game winning streak to Niagara, falling 65-47. Wheeler Baker led the Great Danes with 11 points in his first career start.
“I knew this was going to be a tough game and I thought Niagara played the game with great intensity,” said head coach Will Brown. “We had been playing well headed into the holiday break, and we never got into a rhythm or any type of the flow in the second half.”
The Purple Eagles came out hot from the three-point arc, going 3-for-3 in the opening moments of the game to establish a 9-0 lead.
Six-straight points from Sam Rowley propelled UAlbany to an 8-2 run shortly after, narrowing Niagara's margin to 11-8 with 12 minutes left in the half.
A mix of UAlbany defensive schemes kept the Purple Eagles on their heels mid-way through the first half. After starting the game out perfect from the field, Chris Casey's squad went 3-for-18 from the field into the under-four media timeout in the first period.
The Great Danes took advantage of Niagara's poor shooting without much trouble. Evan Singletary drained a three with 8:30 to play to give UAlbany its first lead of the game, 15-14.
Defensive intensity continued to maintain the lead, as Baker and Greig Stire were on the receiving end of offensive fouls in consecutive Niagara possessions. By the time Dallas Ennema hit a three of his own with five minutes left in the half, the Purple Eagles had managed just one field goal in seven minutes of play.
A four-point swing gave the lead back to Niagara at halftime. The Great Danes entered the break playing from behind for the first time in four games.
Niagara kicked off the second half the same way the game began, with a 3-for-3 clip from the three-point line. Ramone Snowden hit four consecutive threes to send UAlbany into a 15-point hole. The Purple Eagles went on an 18-5 run to take a 45-30 lead at the 12:47 mark.
At the under-12 media timeout, the Purple & Gold had gone without a field goal for nearly eight minutes. The offensive rebounding differential also began to stack up against UAlbany, working 11-2 in favor of the Purple Eagles in the second half.
Niagara entered the bonus with 8:52 left in the game, but only shot four free throws for the remainder of the contest.
UAlbany went 1-for-7 from the field over a four-minute span, as Niagara opened up its largest lead, 63-40 late in the game.
The Great Danes scored a season-low 47 points, including a season-low in all free throw categories. With just five attempts from the charity stripe, the Purple & Gold went 1-for-5 from the line.
The Purple & Gold returns to SEFCU Arena on Saturday night to open America East play against Maine (1-11, 0-0 AE) at 7:00 p.m.
