Box Score
READING, Pa. - The Men's Basketball (8-1) team remained unbeaten on their home court to close out 2009, defeating non-conference opponent Kean University (3-5) by the final score of 74-65 Monday evening in the Bollman Center. Leading the Lions to the win was junior #Zac Shaeffer# with a game high 26 points.
The Lancaster native was impressive for all areas of the court as he closed out the night 9-for-13 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point range, and 5-for-6 from the free throw line. He also finished third on the team in rebounding with six boards and dished out four assists. Combing for 25 points against the Cougars was sophomore center #Derek Hall# and junior guard #Matt Ashcroft#. The duo was also the top-2 rebounders as well combing for 15 of the Lions 41 boards.
Big man Jonathan Jones led the Cougars with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes of playing time. The double-double was Jones' third of the season, and the sixth time he finished with 10 or more points and the fourth time he finished a game with 10 or more rebounds this season.
Vinnie Darpino and Akinwande Oshodi led Kean with 16 points each, and it was Oshodi who finished second on the team in rebounding totaling seven boards on the night.
Throughout the first five minutes of Monday's contest, Kean and Albright exchanged control of the scoreboard a total of eight times. It was not until the halfway point of the opening half that the Lions settled down and played their game. With 6:04 left #Andrew Pomager# gave his team a one point lead, which was then followed up by a made jumper from Ashcroft.
Kean then went onto tie the game for the first and only time of the night on a jumper from Jones and a free throw from Robert Lewis. Albright responded right back with quick 5-0 run to retake control of the lead.
The Cougars still very much in the game managed to get the Lions lead down to one with less than two minutes to play, but were never able to take over. Albright closed out the first half with a five point lead on the board after back-to-back free throws from Shaeffer.
In the second half, Albright's offense exploded jumping out to a 10 point lead in the first minute of play, with a lay-up from #Adam Van Zelst# and 3-point jumper from Ashcroft.
Albright continued to gain momentum throughout the first nine minutes of the final half, but eventually hit a wall at around the 10 minute mark. With consistent shooting from Darpino, the Cougars managed to work the Lions lead down to three with 9:16 left to play.
However, Kean would never get any closer to the Lions then those three points as Albright managed to hold the Cougars back throughout the final minutes. Solid shooting at the line, proved to be the deciding factor for the red and white as Albright closed out the win with solid nine point victory.
Men's Basketball will return to action on Tuesday, December 29th when they face Nazareth College (NY) at 8 p.m. in Rochester, NY.
