ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Peter Hooley hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key on the final shot of the game, giving Albany a stunning 51-50 victory over Stony Brook on Saturday to win the America East tournament title for the third straight year.
The Great Danes (24-8) are 5-0 in the title game, including a 69-60 on the road last year over the Seawolves (23-11), who remained winless in four tries in the championship game.
This couldn’t have been scripted better. Hooley missed eight games in the middle of the regular season to return to his native Australia to be with his dying mother. The team has worn “SH” patches on their left shoulders in honor of Sue Hooley, who died at age 52 in late January after battling colon cancer.
Albany trailed nearly the entire game before Hooley’s incredible shot, the only 3 the Great Danes made on 10 tries the entire game.
Sam Rowley led Albany with 14 points, Evan Singletary had 11 before fouling out late, and Hooley finished with 10.