December 11, 2010
Men's Basketball Drops 64-63 Decision at Albany on Saturday Night on the Road
Junior guard Robby Ptacek matched his career-high with 26 points, but the Blue Devils dropped their fourth straight game 64-63 on the road at Albany on Saturday night. Central rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half to take a three point lead in the final minute of play. The Great Danes scored seven of the final 10 points to come away with the victory. The Blue Devils are now 4-5 overall on the season.
Albany climbed out to an 18-9 lead with 11:53 left in the
first half, and used some hot shooting to build the lead. They hit
on 8-of-13 to start the game, including a pair of threes. The Blue
Devils had four early turnovers to help the Great Danes gain the
nine-point edge. The run reached 10-0 and the lead was 21-9 with
under 10 minutes to play.
A pair of free-throws from Ptacek stopped the run and were the
first points in over six minutes for the Blue Devils.
Albany led 37-22 at the half after using a 26-10 run to turn
an 11-9 lead into a 37-19 advantage. A three from junior Ken
Horton cut it to 15 at the break. Albany shot 51.7 percent,
15-of-29, from the field and hit five threes. The Blue Devils were
just 8-of-26 (30.8 percent) and hit on 3-of-8 from three. They
turned the ball over nine times. Ptacek led the way with eight
points. They were outrebounded 18-14, including six offensive
boards for Albany.
The Albany lead reached as much as 18, 42-24, before the Blue
Devils responded with five straight, including a dunk and
free-throw by Horton, to cut the lead to 42-29 with 15:36 on the
clock. The run reached 12-2 after a free-throw from senior Markeys
Deans, and the score was 44-36 at the 12:38 mark.
Nine quick points from the Great Danes upped the lead to 53-36
and forced a Blue Devil timeout. A 10-1 spurt from Central cut it
to 54-46, including the 18th points of the game for Ptacek. A
Horton three, his second of the game, cut the lead to eight. After
Albany pushed the lead back to 10, Ptacek scored five straight and
Deans scored on a fast break lay up to make it 56-53 with under
four minutes to play.
Sophomore Devan
Bailey was called for a technical foul with 3:36 on the clock,
and the Great Danes hit one free-throw to make it 57-53. Horton
hit a basket and following an Albany turnover Ptacek hit a three to
give the Blue Devils a 58-57 lead. Horton's fourth bucket of the
half made it 60-57.
Albany scored three straight to tie the game at 60 with under
a minute to play, and following a Blue Devil turnover Tim Ambrose
hit a jumper in the lane to make it 62-60. Ptacek was called for
an offensive foul on the other end and then the Great Danes hit two
free-throws to secure the victory.
Ptacek led the offense with his 26 points, matching his
career-high. Horton added 15 points and nine boards while Deans
had eight points, all in the second half.
The Blue Devils are now off for eight days, and don't play
again until next Sunday, Dec. 19, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Niagara. The
game is the first of six straight at home for the Blue
Devils.
