Albertus Magnus Halts Men’s Basketball Streak, 81-65

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Despite multiple comeback efforts, the Suffolk men's basketball team saw its win streak snapped Saturday afternoon as Albertus Magnus took down the Rams, 81-65, at the AMC Athletic Center. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 65, Albertus Magnus 81
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-5, 1-1 GNAC) | Albertus Magnus (6-3, 3-0 GNAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded hoops in the first minute with Kevin Querusio putting the Rams on the board with a bucket from behind-the-arc. Suffolk was then held scoreless over a 5:07 span where the Falcons gained a 16-3 lead. 

In a game of catch-up, the blue-and-gold went on a 9-2 stretch to cut the deficit to five, 18-13, at the midway point. Albertus Magnus rebuilt its double-digit edge, but the determination of the Rams kept the visitors in the contest. 

Michael Hagopian jump started another spurt by Suffolk with a hoop from downtown followed by a pair of freebies from Brendan Mulson and another bucket from the freshman to make it a one-point game, 33-32, at the 3:41 minute mark in the first. 

The Falcons flew out to another six-point edge before Mulson converted on a pair at the line to send the Rams into the locker room down four, 40-36. 

Jim Djema opened the second stanza with a monster three to trim the margin to one before Thomas Duffy gave the visitors a 41-40 lead at the 18:59 minute mark. The lead was exchanged four times with the score tying once before Albertus Magnus regained control of the contest at 46-45 thanks to a layup by Amir Maddred. 

Maddred's bucket jump started the Falcons, who went up by 10, 57-47, with 11:34 to play. Suffolk attempted a comeback once again and pulled within seven twice, with the latest coming thanks to a Mulson hoop with 5:03 on the clock. 

Albertus took a timeout to cool off the Rams and it worked, but Hagopian looked to start another rally with a triple. Unfortunately, Suffolk went cold after the junior guard's third trey of the day and did not score over the final 3:05 as the Falcons locked up the 81-65 victory. 

STATISTISCALLY SPEAKING

• Mulson's 19 points on a 6-for-8 effort from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 showing at the line led Suffolk's attack. He added seven boards on the defensive end as well.
• Hagopian finished with 15 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the floor.
• Duffy played an all-around game with a team-best nine boards to go along with eight points and two steals.
• George Grillakis pitched in nine points and three caroms off the bench.
• As a team, Suffolk shot just 35.9 percent (23-64) from the floor and 30.4 percent (7-23) from three-point range, but truly excelled on the free throw line, missing just one of its 13 attempts.
• The Falcons outrebounded the Rams by a 46-39 margin. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Mulson's 19 points are a career-best with the freshman career-highs in field goals made (6) and free throws made (6-6). The Albany, New York, native recorded double figures in points for the fourth time this season and second straight outing.
• Hagopian registered double digit points for the 10th time this year and six consecutive contest.
• Jeff Juron used the starting combination of Djema, Hagopian, Duffy, Mulson and Querusio for the 11th consecutive contest. 

POST-GAME PIC

COMING UP
Suffolk is back at home Tuesday, Jan. 9 when the Rams entertain Norwich at 5:30 p.m.