Jan. 27, 2006

BULLDOGS OUTGUN ALBION, 71-64
Young, Smith led Adrian past Britons

ADRIAN, Mich. – Whenever the Adrian College men’s basketball team needed a big shot, Desmond Young and Corey Smith where there to provide one.

The duo combined for 30 points and kneecapped an opposing second half rally as the Bulldogs outlasted the Albion College Britons for a 71-64 victory on “Alumni Day” at the Merillat Center.

Adrian (7-10, 6-2 MIAA) swept the two-game regular season series from the Britons. The Bulldogs scored an overtime victory in the teams’ first meeting Jan. 3. Albion (5-13, 3-5 MIAA) entered the game winning three of its previous four games, but got toasted by the Bulldogs’ 50 percent shooting, including 6-for-11 from 3-point land in the second half.

The Britons never led, but didn’t go quietly. Trailing by 15 midway through the second half, Jim Cash and Dean Raven combined for three straight missiles, then Robbie Clark hit a pair of free throws, cutting the deficit to 59-55 with 6:41 remaining. Two minutes later, Clark went 1-for-2 at the line, bringing Albion to within three, but Corey Smith answered with a 3-pointer. With 3:30 remaining, Young buried another missile, making it 67-60.

Young and Albion’s Evan Way exchanged baskets in the final two minutes, but Smith sealed the game with 27 seconds left, taking Andy Kubish’s long inbound and scoring an easy layup.

The Bulldogs found success early in the first half by constantly attacking the basket. Consecutive layups by Steve Thornton and Ryan Gallus gave Adrian a 14-8 lead eight and half minutes in. Albion chipped away at the lead, and a jumper by Drew Yancey and layup from Zak Silas pulled the Britons to within 21-20 with 7:39 left in the half.

After Ian Weber answered with a layup, Ryan Gallus took over for the Bulldogs. Gallus scored 10 points in the final seven minutes of the half with a pair of 3-pointers and two layups. His second missile came with just under a minute left in the half, giving the Bulldogs a seven point lead. A Thornton layup with five seconds left staked Adrian to a 37-31 lead at the break.

Kubish and Young heated up from behind the arc early in the second half. The duo hit a pair of 3-pointers, giving Adrian a 10-point cushion, then baskets from Weber and Lamar Cardenas increased the lead to 54-41.

The Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the day with 10:36 remaining as Kubish sank another 3-pointer, giving Adrian a 59-44 lead.

After Clark brought Albion to within four with his free throws, Gallus hit a jumper with 6:28 left to restore the Bulldogs’ lead to six.

Young finished with a game-high 19 points and eight assists to lead Adrian. Gallus added 17 points, while Smith had 11 points. Kubish had eight points and five rebounds, while Thornton grabbed five rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Cash had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead the Britons, while Silas also scored 14 points. Yancey added 10 points and Raven grabbed six rebounds. Bill Leising handed out five assists for Albion.

The Bulldogs will return to action Jan. 31 when they travel to Kalamazoo College. Adrian defeated the Hornets in their Jan. 6 game at the Merillat Center.