No. 20 Falcons Set Program Record in Wins; Finish 18-0 in GNAC Play

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (February 18, 2012) – The Albertus Magnus men’s basketball team earned their program-record 24^th win on Saturday afternoon with a 75-62 victory over Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action. With the victory, the Falcons improve to a perfect 18-0 in the league as they are the only team in GNAC men’s basketball history to finish undefeated in regular-season conference play.

Before entering today’s game, the Falcons had already clinched the top seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament, which begins on Tuesday. This year marks the third time the Falcons will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament and in those two previous seasons, the Falcons have gone on and won the GNAC title.

With today’s win, Albertus won its 19^th-straight game to set a program record in wins in a single season at 24. In 2009-10, the Falcons finished the year 23-7 after their first-ever NCAA Tournament win. During this season’s 19-game win streak, the Falcons have an average margin of victory of 18.9 points. Today’s game saw the Falcons register a 13-point win after going up as much as 15 points in the second half with 58 seconds left on the clock.

Ray Askew (Hamden, Conn.) led the Falcons with 22 points and five rebounds for his 18^th game of the year with 20 or more points. Askew shot 6-of-12 from the floor, while he shot 9-of-17 from the free-throw line, before fouling out of the game at the three-minute mark.

Arshad Jackson (Hartford, Conn.), who entered the game averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 assists per game, contributed with 20 points after leading the Falcons into the break with 10 points and seven rebounds.  At intermission, Albertus led by two at 36-34.

Albertus’ largest lead of the opening half came at the 4:53 mark as the Falcons took an eight-point lead as Askew connected on a lay-up to put the Falcons ahead 29-21.

The Falcons shot 41.2-percent in the opening frame, while scoring 10 points on seven Saint Joseph’s turnovers. During the frame, there were six lead changes, while the score was tied three times.

After the Monks took a 52-51 lead in the second half, the Falcons battled back and were able to extend their lead to double-digits at 66-56 with three minutes left on the clock before cruising to the GNAC victory.

Zach Dugas (Monroe, Conn.) added six points for the Falcons, while Jefferson Lora (Bronx, N.Y.) recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

With 2,210 career points, Askew is now just 24 shy of the Albertus Magnus men’s basketball record of 2,234 held by Tim Russell ’05. The senior, who already holds the Albertus and GNAC record in total rebounds, extended his career total to 1,144 in today’s game.

The Falcons, who will have home-court advantage throughout the GNAC tournament, will host eighth-seeded Emerson on Tuesday night, Feb. 21. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.