Feb. 14, 2003

Final Stats

Albany, N.Y. - Freshman Jamar Wilson had 19 of his career-high 30 points in the second half, as Albany snapped a four-game losing streak with an 82-74 America East Conference victory over Stony Brook on Friday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center.

Albany (6-16, AE 2-9) led most of the way in also breaking a seven-game skid in conference play. The Great Danes, who posted a 31-28 halftime lead, went on a 10-2 run early in the final period. Antione Johnson and Wilson did all of the damage in that stretch. Johnson, a senior guard, canned a pair of three-point field goals, including one from the top of the arc that gave his club a 44-32 advantage with 15:14 remaining.

Stony Brook (12-11, AE 6-6) rallied with 11 of the game's next 13 points. D.J. Munir, a 6-foot-3 junior who tallied 30 points on 10-of-20 shooting, hit a three-pointer and a turnaround on the left baseline during that period. Bobby Santiago's driving layup closed the gap to 46-43 three minutes later.

The Seawolves, who had won seven of their last eight games entering the contest, still trailed 51-48, when Johnson answered with his fourth 3-pointer from right of the key. Albany maintained at least a five-point margin until less than six minutes remaining. Rhasheed Peterson, who totaled 13 points and seven rebounds, buried a three-point shot from the right corner, before Wilson scored on a follow shot in the lane for a 71-61 lead with 4:43 to play.

Stony Brook was coming off a win over conference-leader Boston University in their last outing three days ago and would make a later run in the final minute. Mike Orfini, who had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, nailed a long-range jumper from the right wing to slice the deficit to 78-74. However, Wilson and Levi Levine, the fourth UAlbany player in double figures with 10 points, each sank two free throws in the last 15 seconds to seal the verdict.

"I am proud of our guys because that is the hottest team in our league right now," said Albany coach Will Brown, who got some needed help from his bench as sophomore Chris Wyatt had four points and three rebounds. "We found a way to win; it was probably our best start-to-finish effort in an America East game this year. This way good for our psyche and I am anxious to see how we respond on the road."

Johnson, who played all 40 minutes in the backcourt, finished with 18 points. Levine, a 6-foot-6 freshman added seven rebounds and four assists to his scoring total for the Great Danes, who made 21 of 25 free throws.