Albany's big 1st half keys 69-57 win over Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) Mike Rowley recorded his first career double-double with a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds and Albany beat Vermont 69-57 on Saturday for its sixth straight win.

Albany opened with a 10-2 run and extended its lead to 34-22 at the intermission. Ethan O'Day's layup with 10 minutes left in the second half cut Vermont's deficit to six points, but Albany went on an 8-0 run for a 54-40 lead.

Albany did not make a field goal in the final four minutes, but went 13 of 16 from the free-throw line to seal it.

Evan Singletary scored 10 points for Albany (13-4, 2-0 America East), which won its eighth conference game in a row.

Trae Bell-Haynes led Vermont (9-8, 1-1) with 19 points and Kurt Steidl added 18. O'Day, Vermont's second-leading scorer, was held scoreless in the first half and finished with five points and eight rebounds.