Jan. 3, 2006

Bulldogs earn overtime win in MIAA opener at Albion

ALBION, Mich.—The Adrian College men’s basketball team won their MIAA opener with an 81-76 overtime triumph at Albion College on Wednesday evening.

Sophomore transfer Desmond Young, in just his second game in an Adrian uniform, scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting with two three pointers. Freshman Lamar Cardenas scored 15 points, all in second half, including two triples. Junior forward Ian Weber netted 13 points and had five rebounds, while senior forward Andy Kubish added 12 for the Bulldogs, who have won two in a row and are now 2-8 (1-0 MIAA) on the season.

After a sluggish first half, Adrian head coach Buck Riley pushed all the right buttons during the half time break. The Bulldogs responded by gradually outscoring the hosts 43-29 in the second stanza after trailing 28-42 at intermission.

Trailing 52-59 with 8:24 remaining, Adrian earned their first lead of the game by embarking on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes with seven points by Cardenas and a three pointer from Kubish.

After a frantic back-and-forth over the final three minutes, Young converted on a jumper with 30 seconds left and was fouled, giving the Bulldogs a 71-69 lead. A back-door cut by Albion’s Andrew Holms resulted in a converted lay-up with 21 seconds left to send the game into an extra period.

Adrian fell behind by three, 73-76 midway through overtime, but finished the game with an 8-0 run behind baskets by Cardenas and Young, and free throws by Young and Ryan Gallus, who finished with nine points and five boards.

Young sealed the win for good by stealing a Britons’ in-bounds pass and converting a lay up to give the visitors a five-point lead and the win.

Adrian will next play host to Kalamazoo College on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Merillat Center.