ALBANY, NY -- Earv Opong hit a driving bank shot with four seconds remaining, as Albany extended Northeastern's losing skid to five with a 51-50 America East Conference victory on Saturday at the Recreation and Convocation Center.
Albany (4-14, 1-6) rallied from a 50-46 deficit in the stretch. Will Brand closed the gap to a single point, as he converted a three-point play when he was fouled on a follow shot in the lane with 1:03 remaining.
Opong, a 5'7 junior, then created a turnover on Northeastern's next possession when he tied up freshman Antonio Johnson on the right baseline. The Great Danes, who had lost seven of their previous eight contests, then set up for the last shot. Opong drove from the top of the key into the lane, and hit the game-winner off the glass. Johnson's desperation heave, from near halfcourt, fell short at the buzzer.
The Great Danes posted their first-ever America East victory in the program's inaugural conference season.
Albany built a 32-25 lead early in the second half on a three-point field goal by Antione Johnson, who scored 12. However, Northeastern (4-16, 2-7) regrouped with nine unanswered points to take the lead. Tim West (10 points), scored in the lane to give the Huskies a 34-32 advantage. The game remained tight the rest of the way, as there were nine lead changes and nine ties overall. Brand, who had 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and four blocks, put the Great Danes ahead 46-45 on a free throw with 3:08 to play. The Huskies regained the lead on Johnson's three-pointer in transition, and a pair of foul shots by West for a 50-46 advantage.
The first half was also close with Albany holding the largest lead by either team at six points on three separate occasions. NU trailed 29-25 at intermission.
Freshman Aaron Davis, who made 8-15 field goals, led NU with a team-high 17 points and four steals.
VISITORS: Northeastern (4-16, AE 2-7)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
12 Davis, Aaron........ f 8-15 1-6 0-0 0 2 2 1 17 0 1 1 4 38
42 Burke-Bennett, M.... f 3-5 0-0 0-1 2 4 6 5 6 0 0 1 1 29
04 West, Tim........... c 3-6 0-0 4-6 2 1 3 2 10 0 4 1 0 26
05 Bain, Jean.......... g 3-10 1-7 0-0 0 1 1 3 7 2 1 0 1 35
20 Walker, Jamaar...... g 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 4 1 0 2 23
01 Hancock, Jermaine... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 5
03 Nlandu, Lunzaya..... 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 8
21 Johnson, Antonio.... 2-7 1-3 0-0 1 2 3 2 5 1 1 0 0 12
22 Cranford, Ricky..... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 6
25 Randall, Q.......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
32 Dunn, Jesse......... 1-5 0-3 0-1 1 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 17
TEAM................ 6 6
Totals.............. 21-51 3-19 5-10 7 19 26 19 50 8 11 3 8 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-29 41.4% 2nd Half: 9-22 40.9% Game: 41.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-9 0.0% 2nd Half: 3-10 30.0% Game: 15.8% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 1-5 20.0% 2nd Half: 4-5 80.0% Game: 50.0% 1,1
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HOME TEAM: Albany (4-14, AE 1-6)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
22 Wyatt, Chris........ f 2-5 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 4 4 0 1 1 0 22
44 Brand, Will......... f 4-10 1-2 8-14 2 4 6 1 17 5 5 4 1 35
13 Ouattara, Karim..... c 2-6 0-0 0-2 4 3 7 2 4 2 1 0 0 29
04 Johnson, Antione.... g 4-9 2-7 2-2 0 4 4 1 12 0 1 0 1 36
12 Opong, Earv......... g 2-8 0-4 1-2 0 5 5 1 5 1 2 0 2 36
00 Barnhill, Alex...... 1-3 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 3 2 0 1 0 1 14
32 Peterson, Rhasheed.. 1-3 1-3 0-0 1 1 2 1 3 0 2 0 0 15
33 Young, Sequon....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
40 Vukovic, Joe........ 2-3 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 2 4 0 3 0 0 12
TEAM................ 4 4
Totals.............. 18-47 4-16 11-20 13 26 39 15 51 8 16 5 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-24 41.7% 2nd Half: 8-23 34.8% Game: 38.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% 2nd Half: 1-10 10.0% Game: 25.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-9 66.7% 2nd Half: 5-11 45.5% Game: 55.0% 5,1
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Officials: Ben Vasconcells, Gary Pucino, John Regan
Technical fouls: Northeastern-None. Albany-None.
Attendance: 651
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Northeastern.................. 25 25 - 50
Albany........................ 29 22 - 51
