Both teams came out hitting on all cylinders from the opening tip. Albright opened up a quick 7-2 lead, but Buffalo State came right back to tie the game at 11 just three minutes in. The Bengals' first lead of the afternoon came on a three from Gregg Jones with 14:57 left in the half that made the score 19-16. Buffalo State's lead stood at 23-20 when a Deeter lay-up on a fast break sparked a 10-0 Albright run, capped by a three from Greg Conroy, that gave the Lions a 30-23 lead midway through the opening period. The lead remained between three and seven points for the rest of the half, until a three-point play by Deeter put the Lions up 45-37 with a minute left before the break. James Williams scored on the Bengals next possession to make the score 45-39 at the break. Deeter had a double-double by halftime, putting up 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jobany Tirdao led the Bengals with 15 points at the half.
Buffalo State opened the half with a three-point play from Tirado to cut Albright's lead to three, but the Lions recovered and slowly pushed their advantage to 10, 55-45, on a three from Taylor Steltz four minutes in. Both teams then fell into a dry spell, however, as a Dante Griggs bucket was the only score for either club over the next six minutes of play. A Lee Walter lay-up broke the scoreless streak for the Lions just past the midway point of the half, giving Albright a 57-47 lead. The Bengals scored the next six points to pull within four, 57-53, with 7:22 left in regulation. Albright responded with a 14-2 run that opened up the lead to its biggest margin of the game, 69-55, with five minutes to play. Buffalo State chipped away at the lead, and pulled within three when Jones completed a four-point play that made the score 76-73 with 52 tics left on the clock. Matt Kieselowsky made a pair of free throws to put the Lions up five, but Jones drilled another three to cut the margin to two, 78-76. After Steltz made one of two free throws, the Lion defense forced a turnover, and Conroy sank a pair of free throws for the final margin of victory.
All fove starters scored in double figures for the Lions, led by Deeter's 23. Steltz and Kieselowsky each scored 12 points, while Walter and Tom Murphy added 11 each. Kieselowsky handed out seven assists for the second straight night, while Murphy blocked five shots. For the Bengals, Jones finished with 25 and Tirado added 20. Walter and Kyle Brudvig led a strong defensive effort on Williams, who entered the game averaging 22 points per game and scored 33 Friday night. Williams finished with just eight points on 3-13 shooting from the floor.
Murphy, Kieselowsky, Jones, Tirado, and Justin Baker from Mary Washington were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Newspaper Box Score Buffalo State vs Albright 1/7/06 4:00 pm at Bollman Center - Reading, PA At Bollman Center - Reading, PA ALBRIGHT 81, BUFFALO STATE 76 BUFFALO STATE (8-4) JONES, Gregg 9-22 2-3 25; TIRADO, Jobany 7-11 6-6 20; GRIGGS, Dante 6-14 0-0 12; WILLIAMS, James 3-13 2-3 8; GUIDEN, Carlton 1-2 3-4 5; IRWIN, Anthony 1-3 0-1 2; McNAIR, Lester 1-4 0-0 2; MOZELLE, Dion 1-2 0-0 2; LANGLEY, Joe 0-1 0-0 0; BUCZEK, Caleb 0-2 0-0 0; PAGAN, Luis 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-75 13-17 76. ALBRIGHT (9-3) Trevor Deeter 9-11 5-6 23; Matt Kieselowsky 4-13 2-2 12; Taylor Steltz 4-8 3-4 12; Tom Murphy 4-8 3-3 11; Lee Walter 5-10 1-2 11; Andy Winebrenner 1-3 2-2 5; Greg Conroy 1-8 2-2 5; Mike Boles 1-3 0-0 2; Albert Medoro 0-3 0-0 0; Derek Kehoe 0-0 0-0 0; Kyle Brudvig 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-68 18-21 81. Buffalo State................. 39 37 - 76 Albright...................... 45 36 - 81 3-point goals-Buffalo State 5-14 (JONES, Gregg 5-10; IRWIN, Anthony 0-1; McNAIR, Lester 0-1; BUCZEK, Caleb 0-1; PAGAN, Luis 0-1), Albright 5-16 (Matt Kieselowsky 2-3; Taylor Steltz 1-4; Greg Conroy 1-5; Andy Winebrenner 1-2; Tom Murphy 0-2). Fouled out--Buffalo State-None, Albright-None. Rebounds-Buffalo State 37 (WILLIAMS, James 8), Albright 52 (Trevor Deeter 18). Assists-Buffalo State 10 (TIRADO, Jobany 4), Albright 19 (Matt Kieselowsky 7). Total fouls-Buffalo State 22, Albright 18. A-438