Men’s Basketball Puts Five-Game Home Winning Streak on the Line Against Vermont Saturday Night
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ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany men’s basketball (11-10, 5-3 AE) hosts Vermont (13-9, 7-1 AE) for the annual Big Purple Growl on Saturday night. The game will tip 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women’s contest, and will be available on ESPN3 and WatchESPN.
UAlbany rebounded from its loss to UNH last Thursday to hand Stony Brook its first league loss of the season at SEFCU Arena 77-67 on Wednesday. Sam Rowley tallied his fourth double-double of the season and second in league play with 17 points and 11 boards. Gary Johnson led UAlbany with 19 points, while DJ Evans and Peter Hooley poured in 11 points apiece.
The Great Danes downed the Seawolves at home in the regular season for the first time since Feb. 2, 2008. UAlbany beat Stony Brook on Wednesday night in a 2013 America East Semifinal rematch.
The Purple & Gold was the first team in the league to have Stony Brook on the ropes at halftime. Will Brown’s squad is now 7-0 when scoring 70-80 points and 9-0 when scoring 70 or more.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Great Danes are currently riding a five-game home winning streak including a 4-0 record at SEFCU Arena in conference play. Will Brown’s squad also opened the 2011-12 conference season on a four-game winning streak. The last time UAlbany opened the season 5-0 at home in league play was in 2006-07.
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE
In all but two games this season, at least one of the four Australians on the roster has had 10 points or more. Two or more Australians have scored 10 or more in 11 games, 15 or more in one game and 20 or more in one game this season. Peter Hooley and Sam Rowley are currently playing 35.7 and 30.2 minutes per game, respectively.
Of the nine Division I institutions with at least one Australian on its roster, Hooley (14.7 ppg) and Rowley (11.9 ppg) are the only pair of Australians playing for the same team to currently average double figures in scoring.
FOUR IN A ROW
Shooting guard Peter Hooley was named to the Capital One NCAA Division I Academic All-District I First Team, as selected by CoSIDA on Thursday.
The sophomore leads UAlbany in scoring with 14.7 points per game, and ranks second in the America East in league-only scoring with 15.6 points per game. Hooley is also nationally ranked 23rd in free throw percentage at 88.1%. He is one of just five players in NCAA Division I to shoot 87% or better from the line in 100 or more attempts. In the classroom, Hooley is a double major in journalism and psychology. After redshirting as a true freshman, Hooley boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.51 over three years.
This is the fourth consecutive year that a member of the UAlbany men’s basketball team has been selected to the All-District team. Previous honorees include Jacob Iati (2012-13) and Logan Aronhalt (2011-12 & 2010-11).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Sam Rowley recorded his first double-double since injuring his wrist on Wednesday against Stony Brook. The junior forward had 17 points and 11 rebounds. It was his fourth double-double of the season and the eighth of his career. Rowley’s effort against Stony Brook also marked his seventh game scoring 15 points or more and fifth with 10 rebounds or more this season.
TAX EXEMPT AT THE LINE
The Great Danes posted another dominating performance from the free throw line on Wednesday night, making almost three times as many free throws (26-32) as Stony Brook attempted (7-9). UAlbany is now ranked No. 11 in free throw percentage (.757) in the nation.
SCOUTING VERMONT
• The Great Danes lost a tough game in Burlington on Jan. 11 68-38 with a short-handed line-up.
• Prior to that game, UAlbany beat the Catamounts in Burlington to win the 2013 America East Championship and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Vermont leads the America East series 21-9. However, UAlbany leads the America East Tournament series 4-1. The Purple & Gold has downed Vermont to earn each of its NCAA appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2013. Will Brown’s squad also beat the Catamounts in the 2009 America East Semifinals.
• The Catamounts are fresh off of a 67-60 win at Hartford on Wednesday night. Vermont is now tied for first place in the league with a conference record of 7-1.
• Vermont’s only loss in league play came at the hands of Stony Brook in Stony Brook, N.Y., last weekend, 67-64.
• The Catamounts are holding their opponents to 62 points per game and lead the league in overall three-point shooting percentage (.391). Brian Voelkel leads the conference in league-game only rebounding (8.3 rpg) and assists (6.3 apg).
