No. 20 Falcons Record 23rd Victory with 87-73 win at JWU

PROVIDENC, R.I. (February 14, 2012) – With an 87-73 win over Johnson & Wales on Tuesday night, the No. 20 Albertus Magnus men’ basketball team has improved its overall record to 23-1 on the year, tying the program’s record in single season wins. Their 18^th-straight victory also moves the Falcons to a perfect 17-0 in conference play with one regular-season game remaining on their schedule.

Ray Askew (Hamden, Conn.) led the way once again for the Falcons as he scored 35 points in 35 minutes of work. He added a season-high 20 rebounds, while it was his 11^th double-double of the season. His 35-point effort marks the ninth game this season that Askew has scored 30 or more points.

With the loss, Johnson & Wales drops to 12-12 overall and 11-6 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play. Tonight’s Albertus win marks the third in the last four meetings with the Wildcats. The 23 wins for the Falcons ties the program record, which was set in 2009-10 after the Falcons won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game.

After going into the halftime break down 35-32, Albertus battled back in the second frame and outscored the Wildcats 55-38 in the final 20 minutes of play. Askew scored 20 of his 35 points in the second half as the Falcons shot 57.1-percent from the floor in the frame. Askew finished the night 13-of-25 from the field and 9-of-14 from the free-throw line, while the Falcons shot 46.4-percent in 40 minutes of play.

Arshad Jackson (Hartford, Conn.) also scored in double figures for Albertus as he contributed with 19 points in 36 minutes. Zach Dugas (Monroe, Conn.) added 13 points for the Falcons as it was his sixth game of the year in double digits.

The Wildcats held their largest lead of the night at six points with just over eight minutes to go in the first half before the Falcons battled back to take their first lead of the game at 30-29 since opening the contest 2-0. The Falcons’ largest lead of the game came at the 10:35 mark in the second half as they held a 17-point advantage.

On the night, the Falcons out-rebounded JWU 50-33, while Albertus scored 52 points in the paint.

With 2,188 career points, Askew is now just 46 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, used today’s tally of 20 to extend his career total to 1,139.

The Falcons will host Saint Joseph’s College of Maine on Saturday, Feb. 18 in their final regular-season game of the 2011-12 season. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.