Fast start boosts Danes
UAlbany keeps its streak of victories intact against NJIT
The shots fell even faster than the snow outside as the University at Albany men’s basketball team defeated NJIT 64-53 Saturday night, maintaining its undefeated record against the Highlanders.
The Great Danes shot 45.7 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range.
Senior Jamel Horton led all scorers with 23 points on 9for-12 shooting, tying a career high set earlier this season against Binghamton.
“I surprised myself, because I didn’t even feel too good in warmups,” Horton said. “I guess I got the misses out.”
UAlbany (9-11, 5-3 America East) raced out to a 20-point lead halfway through the first half on 13 points from Horton. NJIT trimmed that lead to 34-19 by halftime after a 12-4 run featuring two 3-pointers from senior Dylan O’Hearn, who finished with 11 points. Senior Miles Coleman led the Highlanders with 15 points and eight rebounds.
UAlbany’s last 20-point lead was against Columbia, a game the team only won after lastminute free throws from De’Vondre Perry.
“I don’t think we’ve handled leads great,” UAlbany coach Dwayne Killings said. “I think we have to do a better job of executing, getting good shots. Also understanding we can’t get seduced into a moment. I think sometimes, just everything feels good so you just start taking quick shots and you miss a couple, and then boom!”
Seven minutes into the second half, UAlbany led by just six points thanks to a flurry of scoring from Coleman, who started the second half with two quick field goals. He capped a 10-0 run with a 3-pointer and a layup to get NJIT within 43-37.
“We definitely have to find a way to close out these games,” graduate forward Jarvis Doles said. “We have to find a way to, when we get a lead, keep the lead, maintain the lead, and extend it because to me that’s what great teams do.”
Then Horton, who hadn’t scored since there were 13 minutes left in the first half, got hot again. He hit a jump shot to extend the Great Danes’ lead to 45-37 and drove through several Highlanders for a layup 30 seconds later.
“I don’t want to let a hot start make me change the way I play,” Horton said. “I feel like I was
just playing the right way, making the right reads, and just trying to keep us in the lead.”
Doles also sank key baskets in the second half, scoring all 12 of his points in the game’s final 17 minutes. He hit a 3-pointer with 6:25 remaining to interrupt what would have otherwise been a 7-0 run from the Highlanders.
In addition to his scoring in the second half, “I thought (Doles) gave us great defensive energy earlier in the game,” Killings said.
Junior Trey Hutcheson and graduate Matt Cerruti had seven points each, with Cerruti grabbing six rebounds. Graduate guard Chuck Champion also had six rebounds.
Junior James Lee had 11 rebounds for the Highlanders, who shot 32.8 percent overall and 21.7 percent from 3.
The win puts UAlbany in third place in the America East ahead of a contest Monday at first-place Vermont. The Catamounts are undefeated in league play; the Great Danes have won five of their past six games.
Coaches vs. Cancer
This week is Coaches vs. Cancer’s Suits and Sneakers Week. In recognition, Killings held a session with the team Friday during which they discussed how their lives and their loved ones have been affected by cancer. Before the game, the team held up placards with names of people they’ve lost to cancer.
“It was a heavy conversation to have (Friday), to be honest with you… But I think it’s important to have those conversations, because without perspective, I don’t know why we do some of the things that we do,” Killings said.
His placard honored a childhood friend, who shared his love of basketball, and his wife’s aunt.
Injuries: Aaron Reddish (ankle) was not available, though Killings said he was still questionable for Monday. … Paul Newman limped off the floor with eight minutes left in the second half with what Killings said appeared to be a thigh contusion. Newman returned for the game’s final four minutes and should be “good to go” Monday, Killings said.