March 6, 2008

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BOSTON - The Boston University men's basketball team hopes the third time is the charm as the Terriers (13-16) face Albany for the third time this season, and second in six days, on Saturday, March 8 at 8:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the 2008 America East tournament in Vestal, N.Y. at the Binghamton Events Center. The Great Danes (15-14) have taken the previous two meetings this year.

BU is 37-23 all-time in the America East tournament. The Terriers have won the title on five occasions, most recently in 2002. BU has twice entered the tournament as the sixth seed but has struggled in that berth, going 0-2. Boston University and Albany have met just once in the conference tourney since the Great Danes joined the America East in 2002. UA got the best of that meeting, defeating BU, 59-49, in last year's semifinals.

The Terriers lead the all-time series, 8-7, but Albany comes into the game having won the last seven straight. BU won the first eight games by an average of 11 points, including a 28-point victory on Feb. 5, 2003 (78-50). The Great Danes swept all three contests last season, including the meeting in the America East conference semifinals, and won the two regular season match-ups this year.

In the last contest between the teams, UA claimed a 76-64 win on March 2 in Albany. The Great Danes went on a pair of runs - one in each half - to secure the win. The game featured six ties, but each time the Terriers threatened to take the lead in the second half, the Great Danes had an answer. Sophomore Corey Lowe (Newton, Mass.) led BU with 23 points. He was followed by classmate Carlos Strong (Portland, Maine) with 13 points. Josh Martin led Albany with 13 points.

Albany has been alternating between two wins and one or two losses throughout the conference season. UA uses its size to its advantage, out-rebounding opponents by +7.8. Senior forward Brian Lillis leads the Great Danes with 15.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg. Junior forward Brian Connelly is the other UA player averaging double figures with 10.1 ppg.

Lowe and freshman John Holland (Bronx, N.Y.) have each stepped up for BU as the conference season winds down. Lowe leads the team with 18.5 ppg. He is ranked 10th in the nation in made 3-pointers per game (3.8) and leads BU in assists. Holland, a six-time America East Rookie of the Week, averages 11.5 ppg and has a team-best 44 steals. Strong averages 10.9 ppg, and sophomore forward Scott Brittain (Oakville, Ont.) is the fourth Terrier in double figures with 10.2 ppg and a team-best 6.1 rpg.

If the Terriers advance past Albany, BU will meet the winner of Hartford/New Hampshire on Sunday, March 9 at 2:30 p.m.