Last Week: The Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team won a pair of road GNAC contests to improve to 5-0 on the year and 3-0 in league action last week. The Falcons, who received votes in the first D3Hoops.com poll of the regular season, ran their conference winning streak to 27 games with a pair of double-digit victories. In an 80-70 triumph at Suffolk, AMC scored more than half of its points in the paint (50) and received double figure showings from three different players to keep their undefeated record intact. The Falcons used a 19-1 run in the second half to erase an eight-point deficit and gain a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest in an 84-73 win at Emmanuel. During the second frame against the Saints, the Falcons used high pressure defense and up-tempo offense to rally for the win. The two games also marked the final conference tilts of the calendar year for the team from the Elm City.
This Week: Albertus Magnus will host Fitchburg State and Brooklyn College in non-conference action to close out the first semester of play. On Monday, December 7, at 7:00 pm FSU enters The Nest and the clash with the Bulldogs on Wednesday, December 9, is the final game of 2015 for Albertus Magnus.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (5-0) vs. Fitchburg State (4-5)
Monday, December 7, 2015 at 7:00 pm
The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center
New Haven, Conn.
Live Stats: Click here (All links will become active at the start of the contest)
Live Video: Click here
Series History: Monday's non-conference game will mark the second-ever meeting between Fitchburg State and Albertus Magnus. The first game took place during the 1992-93 season as AMC topped FSU, 74-63, in a neutral site clash.
Scouting Fitchburg State: Last time out, the Falcons snapped a three-game losing streak with 57-56 road win against in-state foe and No. 13 ranked WPI. With less than 10 seconds remaining in the contest, Kwame Lee jarred a pair of free throws to put Fitchburg State up for good and cap a 16-point comeback triumph. FSU scores over 72 points per game and is shooting over 44 percent from the field as a team. Offensively, three Falcons average double figures, led by Lee with 14 points a game.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (5-0) vs. No. 24 Brooklyn College (7-0)
Wednesday, December 7, 2015 at 7:00 pm
The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center
New Haven, Conn.
Live Stats: Click here
Live Video: Click here
Series History: This week's contest is the first-ever between the Bulldogs and the Falcons.
Scouting Brooklyn College: The No. 24 Brooklyn College Bulldogs entered the week riding a seven-game winning streak to open the season. The team has raced past their opponents this winter, winning by an average margin of just under 16 points per tilt. The run-and-gun Bulldogs average 90 points per game and are shooting 49 percent from the field. On the boards, they have a rebounding margin of +6 and are forcing 14 turnovers a game. Senior wing Egzon Gjonbalaj leads the offensive charge, averaging 21 points, six assists and nine rebounds per contest. Seniors Lorenzo Williams, Jamal Gist and Edon Gjonbalaj all average in double figures for the Bulldogs.
Albertus Notes:
- The victory two weeks ago against Norwich marked the 59th consecutive for Albertus Magnus on its home floor, which is the best active streak at any level in the NCAA.
- The Falcons have started the season 5-0 for the fourth time in the last five years.
- As a team, Albertus Magnus is producing just under 86 points per game and shooting 47 percent from the field. The Falcons are pulling down a little south of 46 rebounds per contest and hold a +8 rebounding margin per tilt.
- Freshman forward Shontaey Lovell had another solid week for the Falcons, averaging over 23 points and 12 rebounds in the two wins last week. The three-time reigning GNAC Rookie of the Week, recorded his fourth double-double of the year in the win against Emmanuel. Lovell poured in a game-high 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. The 6-6 first-year connected on 10-of-14 shots from the field and also recorded a game-best three steals. He currently leads the country in rebounds per game (15.0).
- From three-point range, AMC hit hit 29-of-89 attempts this winter. Sophomore guard Chaunce Dunbar leads the team with 14 three-pointers and senior Dayron Caldwell has knocked down seven of his own.
- Last time out, senior wing Marc Wilson topped the 20-point plateau for the first time this season. Wilson erupted for a season-high 20 points to go along with four rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
- Sophomore Jaqhawn Walters added 12 points, eight rebounds and a team-high four assists for the visitors, while sophomore transfer Luciano Martinez contributed nine points off the bench in the come-from-behind win for Albertus against the Saints.
