By VICTORIA ADDISON
Sports Editor
For the third straight year, the University at Albany men’s basketball team has punched their ticket to Big Dance.
In a game that came down to the wire, Albany overcame Stony Brook on Saturday afternoon by a score of 51-50. After trailing the Seawolves for the entire second half, it was a three-point shot made by junior guard Peter Hooley with 1.6 seconds left that propelled the Great Danes to victory. With the win, Albany was awarded the American East title and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“It was an incredible shot, made all the more so, given everything Pete and this team has been through this season,” said Albany forward Sam Rowley. “We’ve been constantly faced with adversity in many forms, and it is a testament to the character of the team that we have found ways to overcome these hurdles.”
Hooley, who is an Australia native, lost his mother to colon cancer in late January. As a result, he missed eight games in the middle of the regular season to be at home with his family before her passing. He returned to the team’s lineup about a month ago.
“Everyone on campus knows Peter, because of his mom, so it was exciting to see that happen for him,” said Albany senior student Nicole Kelsch.
News of Albany’s dramatic win spread fast, with Hooley’s final shot making headlines across major sports outlets.
“When you’ve got angels watching, you can do anything,” Hooley said in a post-game interview with ESPN.
Out of ten three-point attempts made by the Great Danes throughout the game, Hooley’s final shot was the only one that went in.
The buzzer beater left fans surging with excitement as they stormed the court at the end of the game, creating a wave of purple and yellow in Albany’s SEFCU Arena.
For junior Saint Rose student Alex Horton, the game was one of the best he has ever seen.
“Albany bounced back in the final minutes. They deserve nothing less than going to the tourney,” Horton said. “The energy in the stadium was electric the whole game, no matter how many points Albany was down.”
The Capital Region will continue to cheer on the Great Danes as they head to Columbus, Ohio on Friday to compete against Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
