Albany scored 10 of the final 13 points of the game to erase a two-point deficit and quell the late Blue Hose rally in a 65-60 win over the Presbyterian College men's basketball team in its third and final game of the Bobcat Invitational held in Hamden, Conn., Nov. 22-24. Ben Drake led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds, for his second career double-double.
 
Scoring the Game
Albany jumped out to an 11-4 lead the opening five minutes of the first half.  PC cut the margin to five at 15-10 off a Ben Drake layup at the 11:03 mark.  The Great Danes extended their lead to 21-13 off a Cameron Healy layup at 5:58 but it was PC with the next five points to cut it to 21-18, 4:24 before the break. After two free throws by Ahmad Clark just over a minute to go put Albany ahead again by five, PC closed out the half with a Cory Hightower layup and a Drake jumper to go into the locker room down by only one, 25-24.
 
PC took a brief lead in the opening seconds with an Isler layup, but Albany responded with a 6-1 run to retake a 31-27 lead, 18:14 remaining. A 6-1 run by the Blue Hose from 16:11 to 14:00 cut the margin to one again, 37-38.  It was short-lived with Healy recording eight unanswered, six coming off two three-pointers, to build the lead to 46-37, 10:53 left. The Blue Hose refused to go quietly, with JC Younger hitting a three-pointer at 7:54 to make it a five-point game, 43-48.  Drake's three at 4:29 gave the Blue Hose a one-point lead, his layup at 3:45 putting them ahead 55-52.  Ahmad Clark and Romani Hansen each picked up a basket for Albany to give the Great Danes a 59-57, 1:08 to go.  PC had to foul, and Albany hit six clutch free throws to stop the PC rally.  Zeb Graham would hit a three-pointer in the closing seconds, as Albany survived for the 65-60 win.
 
Players of the Game
Ben Drake recorded eight points in the first half, finishing the game with 18, to go along with his team-leading 10 rebounds for his second career double-double. Cameron Healy paced Albany with 22 points, while Romani Hansen led in rebounds with seven.
 
Stats of the Game
Both teams shot in the 30s in the first half with PC hitting 33.3%, and Albany 39.1%. The Blue Hose shot 46.2% in the second half to finish with 39.3%. The Great Danes ended the afternoon with 40.0%.  Albany hit five three-pointers, to PC's four, while also connecting on 20 of 24 free throws.  PC was 12-of-16 from the charity stripe.  Albany edged Presbyterian on the boards, 35-34, and had 11 fewer turnovers, 11-22.

 

For the Record
PC drops to 1-6 overall, while Albany improves to 4-3.
 
Up Next
The Blue Hose are off for a few days before returning to Templeton Center Saturday, Nov. 30, for a 4 p.m., contest against Toccoa Falls.  Admission to this game is free.