Regular Season Champs: Men's Basketball Downs UMBC 67-49 to Garner No. 1 Seed for America East Playoffs

BALTIMORE, MD. – For the first time since 2005-06, University at Albany men's basketball (20-8, 14-1 AE) took the America East Regular season crown on Wednesday night, earning a 67-49 victory at UMBC (4-24, 2-13 AE). Will Brown collected his fourth 20-win season in the process, as well as the winningest America East conference season all-time for the Danes.

After UMBC scored the first basket of the game, UAlbany went on an 8-0 run amidst for turnovers by the Retrievers. Baltimore native Evan Singletary rose up early in front of the hometown crowd for seven points in the first seven minutes of the game.

Costly giveaways by UMBC led to 15 early points off of turnovers by the Danes, thanks to steals by Richard Peters, Sam Rowley, Ray Sanders and Mike Rowley. By the 10-minute mark, UAlbany held a 22-9 edge.

The Purple & Gold held UMBC scoreless for four minutes, but the Danes went without a field goal for nearly five minutes. Wheeler Baker came in off the bench for a three with 7:30 to play to maintain a double-digit lead, 25-15.  

Singletary hit his first three of the game shortly thereafter, finishing the first half with 12 points. He was the only player in double figures in the first half, leading UAlbany to a 34-22 advantage at the break. Brown's squad shot 14-for-27 (.519) from the field in the opening stanza, and held UMBC to just six field goals.

The good times for UAlbany continued in the second half, coming out of the half on a 5-0 run. Sanders went for the steal and the dunk for a 17-point Dane lead, 39-22 early on.

The frontcourt got to work mid-way through the second, as Greig Stire, Mike Rowley, Sam Rowley and Peters combined for nine of UAlbany's next 12 points. Sam Rowley found Stire for the flush to extend the Dane edge to 21, 57-36 with 7:30 to play.

Two three-pointers off the hands of Peter Hooley put UMBC away late. The junior finished with 15 points to match classmate Singletary.

Sam Rowley tallied his eighth double-double in the win with 13 points and 11 boards. He needs one more offensive rebound to become the Division I career leader in the category.

Six Danes had at least one steal against the Retrievers. UAlbany shot 49.1% (26-53) from the field, and out-rebounded the Retrievers 39-23.

With the No. 1 seed already in hand, UAlbany men's basketball hosts No. 2 seed Vermont (17-11, 12-3 AE) for the last game of the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2:00 p.m. Senior forward Sam Rowley will be honored pre-game for his four years in the Great Dane uniform.

Tickets for the America East Quarterfinal match-up on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m., can be purchased here.

POSTSEASON UPDATE:

The first six seeds of the 2015 America East Men's Basketball Playoffs have been determined: