No. 15 Albertus Magnus Defeats Anna Maria 88-54 for GNAC Title

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (February 25, 2012) – Four players for the Albertus Magnus men's basketball team scored in double figures as the Falcons won their third Great Northeast Athletic Conference title by defeating Anna Maria 88-54 on Saturday afternoon in the league's title game.

With their 22^nd straight win, the Falcons improved to 27-1 on the year as they held the GNAC Championship banner for the second time in the last three seasons. Their 27 wins also mark a conference record of wins in a single season.

Anna Maria finishes the season at 14-14 overall after a great GNAC Tournament run with back-to-back wins over higher seeded teams.

Ray Askew (Hamden, Conn.), who became the Albertus Magnus all-time leading scorer with 21 points on Thursday night, finished the GNAC Tournament with 52 total points, 25 rebounds and eight assists as he was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The honor is the first for the senior in his career.

Askew was joined on the All-Tournament Team by the Falcons' Darius Watson (New Britain, Conn.) and Jefferson Lora (Bronx, N.Y.) along with Anna Maria's Javier Bristol and Anthony Click.

Lasell's Javon Williams and Saint Joseph's College's Sean O'Brien also earned spots on the All-Tournament Team for their efforts this past week.

In today's championship game, the Falcons opened the contest with a 22-8 run led by 11 points from Watson. In the first half, the Falcons shot 74.1-percent from the floor and went into the break with a 54-25 lead. Watson led all scorers at intermission with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, including a 3-of-4 clip from behind the arc.

Anna Maria shot 35.7-percent from the floor in the first half as the AMCATS hit just five of its 13 attempts from three-point land.

The Falcons dominated play in the second half as well, shooting 50-percent on 14-of-28 shooting.

Askew finished the contest with a game-high 18 points, while Watson finished with 14 along with three rebounds. Lora added eight points, while Zach Dugas (Monroe, Conn.) added 10 points and six rebounds. He shot 3-of-4 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Arshad Jackson (Hartford, Conn.) contributed with eight points, six assists and six steals in the Falcons' win as well.

Click led the AMCATS with 14 points as they shot 35.8 percent from the floor. They were out-rebounded by Albertus 32-28 on the afternoon, while the Falcons scored 34 points on 15 Anna Maria turnovers.

Both Hugh Daye and Michael Gorman tallied 10 points for Anna Maria, while Bristol added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Albertus' largest lead of the day came with 17:21 on the clock in the second half as the Falcons led by 40.

With the win, the Falcons have earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week. The Division III Men's Basketball Selection Show will take play on Monday, February 27 at noon (EST).