Albany Captures America East Men’s Basketball Championship

The Albany Great Danes capped a remarkable comeback at the SEFCU Arena as they defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 51-50 to win their third consecutive America East Men's Basketball Championship.  Peter Hooley sank a long three-point shot with 1.6 seconds on the clock to give the Great Danes the win.

The Seawolves were up 49-42 with 1:43 left in the game.  But through an amazing turn of events the Great Danes battled back even though they lost starting guard Evan Singletary who fouled out.  The Seawolves missed three of four free throws in the closing minute and had a key turnover on an in - bounds play against full court pressure as well.

Ray Sanders missed a potential game-tying shot that went high off the backboard and caromed back to Hooley who hit the shot that will forever be talked about in America East circles.  Hooley had missed eight conference games to visit his terminally ill Mother in Australia.  His Mother, who suffered with cancer, passed away. Hooley returned to the Great Danes lineup and today won the game that will send his team to the NCAA Tournament.

Jameel Warney, the America East Player of the Year, starred for Stony Brook scoring 20 points and adding 14 rebounds while Carson Puriefoy scored a game-high 23 points for the Seawolves.  Albany moves to a 24-8 record while the Seawolves finish at 23-11.  It is the second consecutive win for Albany over Stony Brook in the America East championship game.