Feb. 14, 2001

Box Score

Audio from Postgame Radio Interview with WEST-AM 1400 Sports Director Dick Hammer

• Lafayette Coach Fran O'Hanlon

ALBANY, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - Brian Burke scored 13 points off the bench and paced four players in double figures, as Lafayette posted a 78-65 non-conference victory at Albany.

Lafayette (10-13, 3-6 Patriot League) snapped a 46-46 tie midway through the second half with 10 of the game's next 11 points. Burke, who played his second game after recovering from a punctured lung suffered in the Fordham game on Dec. 11, hit a jumper on the right baseline to put his team on top. Rob Worthington added four of his 11 points in that decisive run, and his free throw gave the Leopards a 56-47 advantage.

Albany (5-20) was still within striking distance at 63-57 with 6:16 remaining, but Mike Farrell and Burke each sank a pair of foul shots to push the lead back to double digits.

The Leopards, who have now won three straight, shot 50.9 percent from the field and used nine consecutive points late in the opening period to break a 27-all deadlock. Lafayette increased its lead to 42-31 early in the final stanza, but the Great Danes rallied with 12 unanswered points. Freshman E.J. Gallup, who led all scorers with 19, hit a slam dunk to give his club a 43-42 edge.

"Our match-up zone was effective tonight," said Lafayette coach Fran O'Hanlon, who has led the Leopards to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments berths. "We gave them some problems when we extended our defense. We got into a little trouble when we rushed things."

Ben Saxton chipped in 11 points off the bench for Lafayette, while co-captain Tyson Whitfield was the fourth Leopard in double figures with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Lafayette continues a tough road swing, playing at Holy Cross this Saturday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. The Crusaders clinched the top seed in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament with a victory over Navy this evening. The Leopards return to the Kirby Sports Center on Monday, Feb. 19, for a non-conference game against Stony Brook at 8 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased right here at GoLeopards.com.