NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team improved to 2-0 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play following tonight's 102-76 home victory over the AMCATS of Anna Maria College inside "The Nest".

Davon Warner (New Haven, Conn.) led the Falcons' attack with 19 points, as the senior point guard exploded for a season-high five three-pointers in the second half and propelled the Falcons to their first triple-digit performance of the season. Justice Washington (Hamden, Conn.) continued his torrid start to the season, as the junior center recorded his third double-double in five games with a 10-point, 13-rebound effort.    

THE BASICS
Final: Albertus Magnus 102 | Anna Maria 76  
Records: Albertus Magnus (4-1, 2-0 GNAC) | Anna Maria (4-4, 1-1 GNAC)   
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a defensive battle for both teams as Albertus held a slim 8-5 advantage four minutes into the half behind three different scorers. Soon after, a layup from Anna Maria's Ralph Grasso Jr. sparked a short spurt that pushed the AMCATS ahead, 9-8, and forced Albertus to call a timeout to regroup at the 15:24 mark. 

The next two minutes saw six lead changes with Anna Maria coming out on top 19-15 at the 12:31 mark following a jump shot from Trevian Grenon. Albertus kept within reach of the AMCATS as a deep trey from Jacqual Gertrude (Jersey City, N.J.) brought the Falcons to within two, 22-20, but Anna Maria answered back with a 6-0 run that was halted by a layup from Warner at the 10:05 mark to make it a 28-22 game.  

Following a timeout at the 10-minute mark, Albertus and Anna Maria continued to battle and trade baskets back-and-forth. The AMCATS' largest lead of the half came at the 6:29 mark as the visitors led by 11, 38-27, but Albertus continued to chip away at the deficit with a 6-0 run to make it a 38-33 game. 

Soon after, Jordan Williams (New Haven, Conn.) gave the Falcons the spark needed to kick off a 12-2 run that brought the hosts to within one, 40-39, with a quartet of made free throws, but Anna Maria would head into halftime with the 47-40 advantage after closing out the final three minutes with a 7-1 run.   

The Falcons wasted no time erasing its five-point deficit at the half as the hosts opened the frame with a 6-0 run, highlighted by four points from Kevin Crawford (Bridgeport, Conn.), to regain the lead, 48-47. A made basket from Anna Maria was quickly countered by a 6-0 run from Washington to give the Falcons the 54-49 lead, with 16:26 left in regulation.    

Anna Maria kept Albertus on their toes over the next three minutes until a layup from Albertus' Terry Dawkins (The Bronx, N.Y.) ignited a 10-2 run, capped by a Warner trey, that forced Anna Maria to call a timeout at the 11:54 mark. Warner wasn't finished, as the senior point guard swooshed another pair of three-pointers to make it three straight treys, giving the Falcons the 13-point lead, 72-59, and forcing a second AMCATS time-out.  

The Falcons put together a 7-0 surge following Warner's burst, going up by 20, 79-59, with 8:50 remaining in regulation. The teams battled back-and-forth from there, until the Falcons went on a 19-6 run that sealed the deal and gave Albertus it's fourth win of the season with a 102-76 victory. 

TEAM STATS

• Albertus: 45.6 % FG | 37.5 % 3PT | 75.0 % FT
• Anna Maria: 49.2 % FG | 33.3 % 3PT | 68.8 % FT

KEY PERFORMERS
Albertus:

• Davon Warner - 19 points (6-12 FG, 5-11 3 PT, 2-2 FT) | 2 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal
• Justice Washington -10 points (5-8 FG) | 13 rebounds | 1 assist | 5 blocks 
• Terry Dawkins -12 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 FT) | 6 rebounds 
• Mekhi Warren -11 points (4-6 FG,  3-4 FT) | 4 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 steal
• Kevin Crawford -10 points (4-9 FG,  1-1 3 PT, 1-4 FT) | 4 rebounds | 1 assist | 2 steals | 1 block

Anna Maria:

• Ralph Grasso, Jr  - 19 points (9-14 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-1 FT) | 5 rebounds | 1 assist
• Kennedy Minix-Rogers - 10 points (4-8 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT) | 3 rebounds | 9 assists | 2 steals

NOTEWORTHY

• This is the 21st meeting between the Falcons and AMCATS.
• With tonight's win, Albertus extends its all-time series record to 17-4 against Anna Maria.
• Albertus is also 9-1 at home against the AMCATS.
• The Falcons set a season-high in offensive rebounds (22), assists (21), and steals (17).
• Albertus also shot a season-high 75% from the charity stripe.
• Dawkins has scored in double-figures in all five games this season thus far.
• Crawford's 10-point performance was a season-high. 
• Warren also netted a season-high in points with 11. 
• The 102-point game was the first triple-digit performance of the season for the Falcons.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will continue their home stretch with a conference clash against the Raiders of Rivier University on Saturday, Dec.11, inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center. Tip-off is set for 3 PM!