New Haven, Conn. – Sophomore guard Chaunce Dunbar (Windsor, Conn.) hit a game-winning three-pointer with under five seconds left in regulation to lead the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team past visiting Baruch, 91-89, on Monday evening in non-conference action at The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.
On a broken play, Dunbar collected a pass from freshman point guard Ryan Pittman (Stratford, Conn.) and after a ball fake he launched a high arching shot from well beyond the arc that hit nothing but net with the clock winding down. On the ensuing possession, Baruch played the ball to senior guard Ryan Markoe whose half-court buzzer beater clanked off the backboard to give the hosts their second straight non-league triumph.
With the win, the Falcons improve to 9-2 on the year, while the Bearcats saw their two-game winning streak come to an end to move to 8-6 overall.
The back-and-forth contest saw no ties and six lead changes. In the opening half, Albertus Magnus led by as many as 20 nine minutes into play. Baruch rallied and saw its lead balloon to as many as 11 midway through the second half.
Trailing 75-64 with just under eight minutes left to play in the game, Albertus Magnus sophomore guardLuciano Martinez (East Hartford, Conn.) provided a spark off the bench with 11 consecutive points for the hosts. His third three in as many minutes pulled the Falcons to with three at 78-75 with 4:52 left in regulation. The guests would answer the spurt with seven of the next eight points.
With under two to play, Martinez connected on his fifth trey of the game make it a two-point Bearcat lead at 85-83. Over the next minute, Baruch would sandwich a four made free throws around a layup from Pittman. Down by four with 30 seconds left, Pittman knocked down his third three-pointer of the night to make a one-point game at 89-88. After an Albertus Magnus foul, Baruch missed a pair of free throws and following a Falcon timeout, Dunbar connected from deep to help the Falcons escape victorious.
Earlier in the second half, the Bearcats opened with a 20-10 run to take their first lead of the game at 57-56 with 13:22 left on the clock.
During the first half, Albertus Magnus jumped out to an early 29-9 edge. The Falcons built an early advantage by holding Baruch without a field goal for five minutes while knocking down six shots of their own, including a pair from three-point range.
Sophomore forward Jaqhawn Walters (Hartford, Conn.) continues to impress, scoring a team-high 22 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists. The double-double was the fifth straight for the 6-6 forward. Martinez had his best game as a Falcon, pouring in 19 off the bench thanks to going 5-of-9 from three-point range. Freshman big Shontaey Lovell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had another effective game in the post, shooting 6-of-7 from the field for 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Pittman and senior guard Marc Wilson (Jersey City, N.J.) were the other Albertus Magnus players in double figures, netting 11 and 10, respectively.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Wednesday, January 13, with a road Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) clash against Johnson & Wales at 7:00 pm. The Falcons enter the rematch of last season's GNAC title game looking to snap the Wildcats program-best 12-game winning streak.
For the latest information on the men's basketball team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.