MEN'S BASKETBALL: ANNA MARIA UPSETS #19 ALBERTUS MAGNUS, 97-88

Paxton, MA (01.21.13) – The Anna Maria College men's basketball team downed Albertus Magnus College, the 19^th ranked team in NCAA Division III, 97-88 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action today at The Fuller Activities Center.  Anthony Click (Springfield, MA), Bradley Peterson (N. Kingstown, RI) and Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, FL) made major contributions, teaming up to score 61 points combined.

With the upset win Anna Maria's record improved to 9-7 on the year and 7-2 in the GNAC.The  AMCATS have extend their winning streak to six games and conference streak to seven games. Albertus received their first loss in conference play, dropping to 10-1 in the GNAC and 15-2 overall. The loss also snapped the Falcons' 35-game regular-season GNAC conference win streak, it was currenly the longest in Division III since Becker College's all-time record of 37 was snapped last month.

The opening half of the contest saw both teams trading baskets but unable to gain the upper hand on the scoreboard. Anthony Click, a senior forward, played a well-rounded first half, scoring 9 points and grabbing 3 boards while also dishing out 5 assists. Post grad forward Bradley Peterson played a major role in keeping the game close, scrambling for rebounds on both sides of the court and knocking down key jump shots on his way to 9 points and 4 rebounds in the first half.

To no one's surprise, the high octane Falcons' offense was more than able to keep pace with the phenomenal play of the AMCATS. Darius Watson (New Britain, CT), a junior guard for the visiting Falcons, led both teams with 10 first half points and 4 rebounds. Senior guard Arshad Jackson (Hartford, CT) scored 8 points on 3-5 shooting from the field. Sophomore guard Lemar Larsen (Waterbury, CT) and senior guard James Economopolous (Wallingford, CT) each contributed 7 points to the Albertus Magnus' effort.

AMCATS' freshman Tyler Delorey (Worcester, MA) also had a significant impact in the first stanza, single handedly pulling in 8 rebounds in the first half and leading Anna Maria to a 25-18 advantage off of the glass. He ended up finishing with 5 points, but led the team with 10 rebounds. Despite the rebounding advantage, the Falcons still went in to the locker room at the half leading 43-42 after shooting an impressive 51.9% from the field.

It seemed highly improbable for both teams to actually be able to continue the offensive output of the first half, but they somehow managed to increase the pace, easily beating their scoring in the first half. Watson continued his magnificent play, ending the game with a game high 29 points and 6 rebounds. James Jennings (Stratford, CT) scored 12 second half points, including 3 three pointers, on his way to 15 points total. Larsen finished up with a 10 point and 10 rebound double double.

The Falcons' Jennings opened up the second half with a basket, however Anna Maria's Peterson responded with six of the next eight AMCATS points to tie the match at 50-50, with 16 minutes to play.  The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes and when Peterson dunked at 13:28 the game was tied for the eighth time at 58-58.

Anna Maria pushed the lead to five, 68-63, when Hugh Daye hit Barillo crosscourt for the fast break layup in the paint with 10:29 on the clock.  Albertus Magnus would knot the game at 81 apiece with a Julian Sanders jumper with 4:49 to play but the Falcons could not push ahead. Three quick baskets by Anna Maria's Click, Bristol and Barillo put the AMCATS ahead 87-81, a lead they would never relinquish.

Sophomore guard Hugh Daye (Worcester, MA) came off of the bench providing a huge emotional spark and, even more importantly, a huge offensive outburst. He finished the game with 10 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds. It was the continued output of Click, Barillo and Peterson that gave Anna Maria the edge. Click stuffed the stats with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9-15 shooting. Peterson ended with a strong 20 and 9, and Barillo dropped 19 points and grabbed 6 boards.

In a game where all other stats were virtually neck and neck, rebounding remained to be the key to the AMCATS' victory this afternoon. They were able to pull in 52 boards, 20 of which came on the offensive end. This allowed the AMCATS to take 20 more shots than the Falcons', a number of which fell for them.

The Anna Maria College Men's Basketball team returns to the Fuller Athletics center to take on the Lions of Emerson College in a GNAC contest scheduled for 7pm on Thursday, January 24^th.