MEN'S BASKETBALL: Albertus Upsets #1 USJ to Earn Ninth GNAC Championship Title

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of Albertus Athletics Communications

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Behind four double-digit performances, including a team-high 19 points from Terry Dawkins (Bronx, N.Y.) and a double-double from Justice Washington (Hamden, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball stunned No. 1 nationally-ranked University of Saint Joseph (CT) on Sunday afternoon in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship game by a final score of 83-79, earning the program's ninth conference title.

With the thrilling victory over the Blue Jays, Albertus earns a spot in the Division III NCAA Tournament. The Falcons will find out who they will face in the first round during the Division III Selection Show on Monday, February 27 at 12:30 PM. 

As for USJ, Sunday's setback serves as a bump in the road with a 27-1 overall record. The Blue Jays are expected to receive an NCAA Tournament at-large bid and have put in a bid to serve as a regional host.

Along with Dawkins and Washington, Tazhon Daniels (New Haven, Conn.) and Antonio Bonilla (Tenafly, N.J.) recorded double-digit performances for the blue-and-white. Daniels finished with 15 points, while Bonilla chipped in with 10 points.         

Daniels and Jacqual Gertrude (Jersey City, N.J.) clinched the game for the Falcons as the duo went a combined 3-for-4 at the charity stripe in the final 26 seconds of play to give the blue-and-white the four-point lead.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Falcons improve their all-time postseason record to 40-13.
• This is the Falcons' ninth GNAC Championship Title 
• Today's Championship Title is Coach Oliver's eighth of his career.
• Albertus earns their eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament. 
• Dawkins was named GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
• Daniels and Washington were named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Dawkins got the Falcons on the board early, as the graduate forward scored an uncontested lay-up off the opening tip-off to give AMC the quick 2-0 lead and spark a 6-1 spurt that put the hosts ahead, 6-1. 
• The Blue Jays rallied back to within one, 6-5, following a 4-0 spurt, but Daniels hit three-point paydirt from the corner to expand the visitor's lead to 9-5.  
• Following a pair of ties at 9-9 and 11-11, the Blue Jays pushed their advantage to four, 15-11, before Albertus took its revenge with their own 6-0 spurt to regain the 17-15 advantage with 12:38 on the clock.  
• The squads matched each other point for point until USJ surged ahead with a short push to take the 28-23 lead with 8:16 remaining in the stanza. 
• From there, a jump shot from Robby Simmons (Hartford, Conn.) at 7:58 ignited a 7-1 run that put the Falcons ahead by one, 31-30.
• The teams battled ferociously over the remainder of the half, matching each other point for point, including two ties, but the Falcons never relinquished their lead and headed into the halftime break with a two-point cushion, 41-39. 
• Albertus came out of the locker room with the hot hand as a jumper from Washington sparked an 11-4 run that extended the visitors' lead to nine, 52-43. 
• Following a media timeout at 15:51, USJ used the break to regroup and rally together an 8-3 run to make it a one-possession game, 54-51, heading into a timeout.
• Back-to-back baskets from Jeyson Slade (Stamford, Conn.) pushed the Falcons ahead by seven, 58-51, USJ kept within arms reach and found themselves within two, 64-62, with 8:41 remaining in regulation.      
• With momentum swinging in favor of the Blue Jays, Bonilla took matters into his own hands and swooshed a crucial three-pointer to push the momentum back in favor of the Falcons that, ignited a 7-2 run that put the visitors ahead by seven, 71-64, forcing USJ to call a timeout at 6:15. 
• Momentum again shifted in favor of the Blue Jays as a layup from Chayln Martin tied the game for the eighth time, 77-77, and capped a 13-6 run at the 2:34 mark. 
• The Falcons slammed the door on the Blue Jays in the final two minutes of the game, orchestrating a wild, energetic 6-2 run on three points from Dawkins, two points from Daniels, and one point from Gertrude to secure the 83-79 championship victory over their intra-state and conference rival.

TEAM STATS
Albertus: 48.4 % FG | 23.1 % 3PT | 66.7 % FT
Saint Joseph (CT): 39.3 % FG | 15.0 % 3PT | 63.6 % FT

TOP PERFORMERS
Albertus:
Terry Dawkins - 19 points (8-13 FG, 3-5 FT) | 5 rebounds | 3 steals
Tazhon Daniels - 15 points (5-11 FG, 1-3 3PT, 4-4 FT) | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal
Justice Washington - 12 points (6-8 FG, 0-1 FT) | 10 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal | 4 blocks
Antonio Bonilla - 10 points (3-13 FG, 2-8 3PT, 2-3 FT) | 3 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal

Saint Joseph:
Ryan O'Neil - 18 points (5-17 FG, 1-9 3PT, 7-9 FT) | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal
Jake Sullivan - 15 points (4-8 FG, 2-5 3PT, 5-6 FT) | 9 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 steal | 1 block
Jaecee Martin - 14 points (5-14 FG, 0-1 3PT, 4-7 FT) | 5 rebounds | 4 assists 
Jalen Samuels - 12 points (3-5 FG, 0-1 3PT, 6-14 FT) | 5 rebounds | 2 steals | 1 block 
Alec Kinder - 10 points (3-5 FG, 4-6 FT) | 9 rebounds | 2 assists | 3 steals | 1 block