Singleton Leads Albright to Comeback Victory in Season Opener

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By Jimmy McCumber

Senior Dave Singleton made the big plays down the stretch as the Albright College men's basketball team rallied to beat Immaculata 67-66, Friday in the Wyndham-Reading Tip-Off Tournament.

Trailing by four with a minute to play, Singleton canned a jumper to make it 66-64 Immaculata. Junior Sam Marrella then picked TJ Klinger's pocket and found Singleton, who converted the basket while being fouled.

Singleton calmly sunk the go-ahead free throw, then stripped Nelson Torres with four seconds remaining to protect the one-point margin.

Senior center Zach Benjamin had drained a three-pointer with 1:21 remaining to keep the Lions alive, after Torres had forced in a tough pump-fake shot.

Singleton finished with 19 points and five assists, both game-highs. Pedro Perez (13 points) and Benjamin (10 points) were in double-figures, and junior Kyle Jordan pulled down seven rebounds.

Albright did not lead for a stretch of 27:43, spanning from 8:05 remaining until the first half, all the way until Singleton's free throw went in.

The Lions couldn't shake off the rust in the first half, shooting 9-of-38 from the field (23.7%) while Immaculata was at 48.3%.

Freshman Johnathan Amoroso created a pair of second chances baskets, one on his own put-back and then an assist to Singleton to put the Lions up 15-12. The Mighty Macs hit consecutive shots but freshman Calvert Gantz finished a put-back to restore a one-point Lion advantage.

Torres drove hard for two to push make the score 22-18 Immaculata. Albright soon tied it at 22-all on a Jordan steal and two free throws.

The Mighty Macs opened up a 33-25 gap going into the break as Albright couldn't make shots and struggled to guard Brandon Smith in the post.

After Amoroso went hard to the basket for two midway through the second half, Klinger found Todd Stockley on a great backdoor cut to open up a 55-44 Immaculata advantage.

The Mighty Macs were led by Torres' 18 points, while Lou Dominique had a double-double (13 points, 11 boards).

Albright (1-0) will now host Moravian (1-0) at 8 p.m. in tomorrow's tournament final. Moravian held on for a 69-67 victory as a desperation three-point attempt by Elms' Walter Mfuko fell short at the buzzer. Elms and Immaculata will play at 6 p.m. in the Bollman Center.