By Edwards Kemedjio
The University at Albany Great Danes fell to the University of Vermont Catamounts 86-75 in a
game between the two leading teams in the America East Conference.
The Great Danes took the court Saturday in front of a packed crowd in what felt like a playoff
game at SEFCU Arena. Head Coach Will Brown praised the job done by the athletic department, saying “I think our athletic department deserves a lot of credit…great atmosphere today, there wasn’t a seat to be had.”
Guards Ahmad Clark and Cameron Healy both scored 22 points for the Great Danes, and senior Romani Hansen grabbed 10 rebounds.
UVM Senior forward Anthony Lamb showed why he’s one of the best players in the conference. He finished with 33 points, 20 of which came in the first half. Lamb proved to be unstoppable regardless of the defensive pressure put on by UAlbany.
Both teams got hot and stayed hot for the entire first half, with both sides going into the break
shooting over 50% from both the field and from three-point range. Lead guards Healy and Clark combined for 32 points in the half.
In the second half, the experience of the Catamounts began to show as they took control of the game. “It’s an older group an experienced group, a group that doesn’t beat themselves, and a group that is accustomed to winning,” said Coach Brown after the game.
The Great Danes couldn’t seem to find their rhythm in the second period, starting off shooting 1-7 from three on their first seven shot attempts. “They turned up their defensive pressure, their ball pressure turned up in the second half…focused on me and Ahmad more” noted Healy when speaking on the UVM defense in the second half.
Coach Brown attributes their woes to the team reverting back to bad habits that had cost them games earlier in the season. “We got back on our heels, our offense impacted our defense and before you know it, we’re down 19,” Coach Brown said.
The Great Danes would fight back however, and four second-half threes by Antonio Rizzuto
would help the team cut the deficit down to nine, but the Vermont defense buckled down and
only allowed one field goal over the 4:30 left in regulation.
UAlbany will look to get back on track Wednesday at home against Binghamton.