CONTACT: Jeff Foley (518) 629-8085 or (518) 210-4161
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, February 14, 2002
http://www.hvcc.edu
Joseph Bell's Hot Hand Leads Hudson Valley To A 92-53 Victory
Troy, N.Y., February 14, 2002 - Joseph Bell (Albany H.S.) erupted for a game- and career-high 37 points at the McDonough Complex this evening, leading Hudson Valley Community College's men's basketball team to a 92-53 victory over Columbia-Greene Community College. Bell, who scored 23 points in the second half, nailed 16-of-25 field goal attempts.
The second-year guard/forward, who came into tonight's matchup averaging 8.6 points per game, also had three rebounds and a pair of assists. He made five 3-pointers.
The Vikings have now won eight games in a row and 11 of their last 13 contests. Hudson Valley, which opened the game with a 13-0 run, is 17-8 overall. Columbia-Greene is 7-16.
Markael Brace (Albany H.S.) and Michael Lazzari (Bishop Gibbons H.S.) each notched a double-double for Hudson Valley. Brace had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Lazzari, a forward making his first of the season, contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds. Hudson Valley's Steve Valente (La Salle Institute) tallied 14 points.
In the 2000-01 academic year, Hudson Valley's athletic teams combined to win 72 percent of their contests. The ice hockey team won the NJCAA championship, the baseball team earned a berth in the NJCAA World Series and the football team won the Region III title. The women's basketball team earned a No. 1 national ranking and turned in a 24-3 record while the men's hoop squad competed in the Region III championship game. Additionally, two Vikings earned Region III Player-of-the-Year status, 20 were named All-Region III performers, and 10 were honored with All-American status.
