Penn State Falls to Albany on Opening Night, 87-81Penn State Falls to Albany on Opening Night, 87-81

Penn State Falls to Albany on Opening Night, 87-81

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PENN STATE VS. LOCK HAVEN
8781
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Penn State vs. Duquesne
Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016Bryce Jordan Center | University Park, Pa.
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Nov. 11, 2016

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Joe Cremo scored 22 points, Dallas Ennema had 20 points and David Nichols added 19 to lead Albany over Penn State 87-81 in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament on Friday night.

Shep Garner made three free throws with 17 seconds left to pull Penn State to 82-79 but Cremo, Ennema and Marqueese Grayson combined to hit five free throws to ice the season opener for both teams.

The Great Danes dominated the first half, leading 41-25 at halftime. They fended off Penn State's late rally by controlling the glass and playing opportunistic offense.

Albany pulled down 43 rebounds to Penn State's 26 and scored 20 points off of fast breaks.

Garner scored 17 of Penn State's final 19 points and finished with 20.

BIG PICTURE
Albany: The Great Danes won nine of their last 12 games last season, but it soured quickly after back-to-back losses in the America East and CBI tournaments. They snapped that losing skid with a convincing win in which they led in nearly every statistical category.

Penn State: With six new faces in the lineup, it's going to take much longer for Patrick Chambers to find what pieces fit where. He'll continue to bring players off the bench to spread minutes around and mix veterans with newcomers to build chemistry. Guard Josh Reaves' absence could make the first part of that tougher with fewer players on the bench. He will miss at least the next two games with a lower leg injury.

A GLIMPSE OF WATKINS
The long awaited debut of big man Mike Watkins was a promising one for Penn State. The power forward was ruled ineligible by the NCAA last season and was a physical force in his first game, providing Penn State's few highlights around the rim.

The Philadelphia native scored the game's opening basket on a nice turnaround jumper and chipped in three blocks and two rebounds in the opening three minutes. He finished with seven rebounds, five blocks and 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

BANKS ON THE MEND
A hamstring injury kept versatile forward Payton Banks out of Penn State's exhibition against Lock Haven a week ago and he was rusty off the bench, going 1-for-5 in just nine first-half minutes before heating up and finishing with 14 points. Banks said he ''felt 100 percent'' before, during and after the game.

UP NEXT
Albany plays at Cincinnati on Monday.
Penn State hosts Duquesne on Sunday.