Men’s Basketball: AMCATS Clipped by Falcons, 109-104

Paxton, Mass. – Anna Maria College senior Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, Fla) poured in a game-high 26 points in a 109-104 loss to visiting Albertus Magnus College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball action tonight at Fuller Activities Center.

The AMCATS dip to 8-12 overall and 6-7 in conference play, while Albertus moves to 18-2 (12-1GNAC) on the season.

Anna Maria had five players in double figures in the high scoring affair. Barillo netted most of his points from beyond the arc connecting on six triples, while classmate Quantez Franklin (West Yarmouth, Mass.) chipped in with 18 points and five rebounds.  Off the bench, sophomore Tyler Delorey added 13 points and sophomore Patrick Bradanese (Billerica, Mass.) tallied 14 points. Sophomore Hugh Daye (Worcester Mass.) finished with 12 points, 5 assists and 3 boards.

Sophomore James Jennings (Bridgeport, Conn.) led the Falcons with a team-high 26 points and junior Victor Ljuljdjuracj (Bronx, NY) had the games only double-double with 13 points and 10 caroms.

With the game tied 9-all the Falcons would forge ahead 26-12 with a strong 17-3 run lasting almost five minutes. The AMCATS countered with a 19-5 spurt of their own to level the game 31-31 at the 7:24 mark of the first half.  Barillo capped off the run scoring the final 8 points with a pair of threes and a short range jumper.

Tied for the seventh time in period 39-39 with 4:44 showing on the scoreboard Albertus would close out the half with a 19-9 run to hold a 58-48 advantage heading into the intermission.

Albertus shot a blistering 75% from the field (21-of-28) while Anna Maria countered with a respectable 54.3% (19-of-35). Each team connected on four 3-pointers.

After the Falcons pushed the score to 62-50 early in the second stanza, Anna Maria would slowly chip away at the lead. Barillo would hit back-to-back treys to open the 12-2 run and Franklin finished with a pair of buckets to cut the deficit to 64-62 with 13:38 to play. A minute later Bradanese drained a triple to make it a one-point affair 68-67 at the 12:17 mark.

However, Albertus would quickly push the lead to ten points with 10 minutes remaining. Anna Maria's Tyler Delorey (Worcester, Mass.) tallied a trey with 1:32 to cut the lead to 101-98 but the AMCATS couldn't get any closer and Albertus would hit six from the charity stripe to seal the 109-104 final.

Anna Maria returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Norwich University for a 1:00 p.m. GNAC match-up.