VESTAL, N.Y. --- Carlos Strong scored 17 points and 2008 America East Rookie of the Year John Holland had 16 as sixth-seeded Boston University outlasted third-seeded Albany, 68-64, in overtime in the quarterfinals of the 2008 America East Men’s Basketball Championship at the Events Center Saturday afternoon. The Terriers (14-16) advance to the semifinals to take on second-seeded Hartford at 2:30 p.m. Sunday while the two-time defending champion Great Danes come up short in their bid for a third straight conference title.
Box Score.Albany (15-15) had several double-digit leads in the first half before BU battled back behind 12 points by Strong and his three-pointer at the horn cut the Great Danes lead to just one, 30-29, at the break. Boston University took control through most of the second half but UA took advantage of shoddy Terriers free throw shooting and a late three-pointer by Jon Iati to draw even at 56-all at the end of regulation. In the second half, BU hit just 5-of-8 from the stripe and 2-for-4 in the last 34 seconds.
Boston University never trailed in the extra session starting with a pair of runners by Corey Lowe in the first minute and a half. The Terriers closed out Albany at the line hitting 4-of-6 in the last 28 seconds.
The Terriers out-rebounded Albany, 37-31, and shot 45% from the floor while limiting UA to just 32 percent in the hard fought contest. For the game, Boston U. made 57 percent from the line (17-for-30) while Albany was 28-for-39 (72 percent). Strong went 4-for-5 from behind the arc as Boston University made 41 percent of its three-point attempts.
Corey Lowe added 11 points and seven rebounds for BU while Brittain had nine boards and Holland grabbed eight.
In the final game of their collegiate careers, Brian Lillis had a game-high 24 including 16-for-18 from the line and Iati tallied 16 going 4-for-6 from three-point range for the Great Danes.