Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, DE -- Senior forward Herb Courtney scored 19 points and freshman forward Alphonso Dawson (at right) struck for a career-high 18 points to lead the University of Delaware men’s basketball squad to it second straight victory with a 71-60 non-league win over Albany Wednesday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Blue Hens, trying to rebound from three consecutive 20-loss seasons, have now won two straight at home for the first time since defeating UNC Greensboro and Central Connecticut in back to back games in December, 2005.

Delaware (2-4), which also got 11 points and six rebounds from senior forward Sam McMahon and nine points, six rebounds, and five assists from Brian Johnson, overcame a tough shooting night and a rebounding deficit as the Blue Hens turned the ball over just six times, outscored Albany 30-8 at the foul line, and held a big 22-4 advantage on points off turnovers.

Courtney hit on 12 of 17 shots from the foul line while Dawson, who also pulled five rebounds, reached his career-high in scoring for the second time in three nights.

The Hens’ six turnovers were their lowest total since committing five vs. James Madison on Feb. 13, 2003 and its 47 free throw attempts were the most since going to the line a school-record 56 times vs. UMBC on Jan. 6, 1993. Four different Albany players fouled out as the Great Danes committed 33 total fouls to Delaware’s 15.

The Great Danes (4-3), the two-time defending America East champions, lost their second straight despite a big night from junior forward Brian Connelly, who led the way with career-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Brian Lillis added 12 points and six rebounds.

“We’ve been playing really well on defense,” said Delaware head coach Monté Ross, who returned to the bench after a one-game suspension by the Colonial Athletic Association for his conduct following a 57-52 loss to Iona last Friday. “It (defense) has to be our staple. We were giving up second chance points earlier this season but now we are finishing the play. These two wins give us momentum heading into our road trip.”

The Blue Hens will play their next three games on the road with contests at Ohio University Saturday, at Central Connecticut State Dec. 16, and at Vermont on Dec. 19.

Delaware led for the first nine minutes of the game before a three-pointer by Albany’s Brent Wilson gave the Great Danes a 16-14 lead with 11:05. However, the Hens got the lead back for good at 19-18 on a Courtney three-pointer with 9:05 remaining and extended the lead to as much as seven points before settling for a 31-28 advantage at the break.

Dawson converted a three-point play just one minute into the second half to extend the lead to 34-28 and the Blue Hens never led by less than five points the rest of the way. The Hens led by as many as 13 points at 61-48 with 4:07 left on a Dawson free throw as the Hens scored each of their final 14 points of the contest from the charity stripe.

Albany cut the lead to five at 65-60 with 32 seconds left, but D.J. Boney followed with two free throws moments later and Courtney converted two more with 11 seconds left to ice the win.

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