Campbell’s First Career Double-Double Aids UAlbany Men’s Basketball in 66-54 Road Win over Binghamton

VESTAL, N.Y. – The UAlbany men’s basketball team earned its fourth consecutive road victory, helped by Devonte Campbell’s first-ever double-double, defeating Binghamton 66-54 on Thursday night.

Down five in the first half, UAlbany (16-11, 7-5 AE) went on a 31-9 tear into the second half against Binghamton (12-15, 3-9 AE). The Great Danes led by at least 12 points the rest of the way.

“We are still a work in progress, and we are continuing to get better,” said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. “This is a tough place to play, and in the second half we were much more aggressive plus our defense was solid all game long.”

With UMBC’s loss to Hartford, UAlbany is now just a half-game behind the Retrievers for third place in the America East.

As a team, UAlbany outrebounded Binghamton 37-25 plus had nine three-point baskets to Binghamton six. UAlbany is 4-0 this season when scoring more three-point baskets than its opponent.

Four players earned double digit scoring for UAlbany, with Campbell picking up 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. David Nichols led the Great Danes with 17 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Travis Charles finished with 14 points off the bench while Joe Cremo concluded with 13 points and seven rebounds.

“Despite the minutes, I’m just going to keep playing both sides of the floor,” said Campbell. “I’m just going to go out there and play.”

For Binghamton, Timmy Rose got 14 points plus five rebounds. No other Binghamton player scored more than seven points.

Each side began with long possessions, with shots not falling early for either side. After Nichols got UAlbany started with a corner three, he scored the team’s next basket with a floater in the paint five minutes in. Greig Stire added a free throw for a 7-4 UAlbany lead after nearly six minutes.

Binghamton hit three baskets in a row in a span of 67 seconds, capped by a steal and score from John Rinaldi. Dallas Ennema ended the run with three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, then BU went back up with a Yosef Yacob runner and a Fard Muhammad three to make it 15-10 Bearcats.

The back-and-forth continued to go, with UAlbany making a 5-0 run off a Cremo corner three and a Charles soft jumper. Binghamton got another 5-0 streak to make it 20-15 with 6:06 left in the 1st.

UAlbany defense held the Bearcats without points for the final 6:06 of the first half. After tying it up with five points in three minutes, UAlbany scored three baskets in the final 1:20 of the half, a Campbell layup off an arc pass, a Cremo three off a kickout and a Campbell tip-in at the first period buzzer to complete a 12-0 run and give UAlbany a 27-20 advantage at the break.

UAlbany came out on fire from the locker room, burying a trio of three-pointers plus causing a couple of steals on defense. The original run was increased to 17-0, later to 23-2, putting UAlbany ahead 38-22 just over three minutes into the second half.

The defense continued to hold as UAlbany shifted gears by using more of the shot clock and attacking the paint. Capped by a personal 6-0 run by Charles, UAlbany kept the lead strong going up 54-34 with 7:24 to play.

After a Timmy Rose jumper, Charles and Campbell assisted the other for baskets, pushing UAlbany up 59-36 with six minutes left.

Binghamton had one last gasp with an 8-0 run in just over a minute, capped by a pair of threes. Following an exchange of baskets, UAlbany essentially finished off Binghamton as Nichols hit a layup down the lane and passed off to Ennema for the corner three for a 66-46 advantage with 2:42 left.

Binghamton got the last eight points, but UAlbany’s lead proved triumphant as the Great Danes won 66-54.

UAlbany will have a long break, next playing on Wednesday, February 15th against UMBC at the SEFCU Arena at 7 p.m.