Holy Cross picks UAlbany apart

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

UAlbany's Peter Hooley (12) powers through Holy Cross defense during a basketball game at SEFCU Arena in Albany on Wednesday, December 3, 2014.

Share on Facebook

Save

Even the best scouting reports don’t mean a thing without execution and energy.

University at Albany head coach Will Brown thought he had prepared his Great Danes well for a havoc-causing Holy Cross full-court press, but he took the blame for an unusual one-sided home loss Wednesday night at SEFCU Arena.

The 4-1 Crusaders not only forced 13 turnovers in the first half, but they shot 13-for-19 from three-point range, including a 6-for-6 effort from freshman Mitchell Hahn and a 5-for-5 performance from Anthony Thompson, en route to a 74-57 non-conference victory.

Holy Cross forced 18 UAlbany turnovers and shot 54.5 percent from the floor, as Hahn, who entered the game averaging just 2.0 ppg, and Thompson finished with 22 and 15 points, respectively, to lead four double-figure scorers. Malcolm Miller and Justin Burrell chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

UAlbany was only 6-for-18 from beyond the arc, and the Great Danes rarely got off good shots inside the paint.

“They [the Crusaders] outcompeted us,” said Brown. “It was my fault as the coach, and it won’t happen again. I was very surprised by the outcome and the lack of energy,”

UAlbany senior forward Sam Rowley finished with 14 points and five rebounds for one of the few bright spots for the Danes.

“Part of it was complacency,” Rowley said about UAlbany’s lackluster effort. “We are resting on our laurels. They exposed [our weaknesses] in every way. This was a complete reality check for us. We have only ourselves to blame for this loss.”

Junior Peter Hooley, who added 10 points on 3-for-10 shooting, said the Danes knew what to expect from a very good Patriot League team in Holy Cross.

“We knew how to go against it [the press],” he said. “We had a good game plan, but we didn’t execute.”

“We have to adapt,” added Rowley. “They have good players on Holy Cross, and they aren’t one-dimensional. We played against a team that has an identity.”

After scoring the first basket in the game on a layup by sophomore center Mike Rowley, the Danes fell behind immediately, as Holy Cross sank back-to-back treys in an early sign of things to come. The Crusaders took several 15-point leads and settled for a 41-28 halftime advantage.

Holy Cross quickly expanded its lead early in the second half to 20 points (53-33), and was never seriously threatened.

“We beat a quality basketball team,” said Holy Cross head coach Milan Brown. “Anytime you play a team with tournament experience and beat them, it’s a good win. And anytime you win a game like this on the road, it’s like two wins.”

Will Brown said today’s practice session won’t be fun for his Great Danes.

“I’m the coach and I’m responsible for this group. It all starts with me,” he said. “You ask them to do certain things, but have you put them in position to execute the game plan? I need to do a better job with this group.

“I’m more disappointed with how we competed than in the loss itself. They outcompeted us in our own building. Hopefully, this was an eye-opener for our guys.”

The 2-4 Great Danes play at St. Francis (Pa.) Saturday.

HOLY CROSS (74)

Miller 4-8 1-3 11, Green 2-7 1-4 5, Abt 1-1 0-0 2, Thompson 5-7 0-0 15, Burrell 1-5 8-8 10, Hamilton 1-2 0-0 2, Morgan 0-0 2-2 2, Alexander 1-2 0-0 2, Champion 1-3 1-2 3, Hahn 8-9 0-0 22. Totals: 24-44 13-19 74.

UALBANY (57)

M. Rowley 1-2 0-0 2, S. Rowley 5-7 4-6 14, Singletary 3-7 0-0 8, Sanders 2-4 2-3 6, Hooley 3-10 3-6 10, Green 0-1 0-0 0, Ennema 2-4 0-0 6, Baker 1-8 8-8 11, Stire 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-43 17-23 57.

Halftime: Holy Cross, 41-28. Three-point goals: Holy Cross 13-19 (Miller 2-3, Thompson 5-5, Burrell 0-3, Champion 0-2, Hahn 6-6), UAlbany 6-18 (Singletary 2-4, Hooley 1-6, Ennema 2-3, Baker 1-5). Rebounds: Holy Cross 28 (Miller 6), UAlbany 30 (Baker 6). Assists: Holy Cross 10 (Burrell 6), UAlbany 9 (Holey 3). Total fouls: Holy Cross 24, UAlbany 18. Officials: Ray Perone, Ron Tyburski, Joe Smoot. Attendance: 2,667.