Albany 75 Vermont 71
Vermont fought hard and played tough on the road but ultimately could not do enough to win. In the first half Vermont absolutely shot the lights out. This was mostly due to Ernie Duncan's career night. Their defense around the rim was great and they forced Albany to take contested perimeter shots. Vermont went into the locker room with a 10 point lead. Out of the gates Albany tightened up their defense and started to relentlessly take the ball at the rim. Vermont was pushed back on their heels and it looked like they were going to get run out of the building. Albany stormed all the way back and took a seven point lead. Things were looking bleak as Vermont could not hit anything from the perimeter. Then shots started to fall and Vermont clawed their way back into the game and took a one point lead at 71-70. Albany made enough free throws down the stretch and Vermont was unable to cash in on any more perimeter shots which resulted in the final margin. There were many good things and many bad things about this game. On the positive side of things, Vermont continues to play well on the road and has improved many of their weaknesses from earlier in the season. This game was Albany's Big Purple Growl event and there was a crowd of over 5,000 in attendance. Vermont not only took a big first half lead, but then fought back and almost pulled out the victory. Vermont's interior defense was much better. Individually Ernie Duncan and Cam Ward were tremendous. It was by far the best game of Duncan's young career. The live stats are not working so I do not have exact numbers but I believe he finished with a career high 23 points. He looked decisive and confident while looking a step quicker than he has been recently. It seems as though he is much more comfortable playing on the road as he continues to have more success away from Patrick Gym. Drew Urquhart also looked very good and is making the same kind of late season run he did last season. On the negative side of things, the Cats perimeter defense in the second half was atrocious. They could not and did not stop any dribble penetration and let Evan Singletary and Peter Hooley completely take over the game. Albany lives and dies at the free throw line as much as any team in the nation and this game was no different. Albany finished the game +15 at the free throw line and it was 100% the reason they won the game. Most of those free throws were the result of Vermont's perimeter defenders not moving their feet. I do not think I have seen Dre Wills play a worse game. I realize he is banged up but he had no effect on either end of the floor. This game was very much about a senior laden, experienced team knowing what to do to win. Singletary and Hooley are both clutch players who are at their best when their team needs them. Tonight was another example of what a veteran presence can do for a team. The game was leaps and bounds better than the first meeting with Albany and gives hope that Vermont can continue to improve so they are playing their best basketball a month from now. They have to shake off this game and focus on getting revenge against UMass Lowell. This season is now focused solely on securing the third seed. In order to do that they need to go at least 5-1 the rest of the way. At this point in the season as a player you have to have a short memory because there is no more time to make up for an off game. Every game from here on out is the season. Vermont needs to bounce back and take care of business at UMass Lowell on Monday.
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