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Sophomore Ben Moser - who scored a career high of 27 points - made a free throw for the Dogs with just over a minute to play to tie the game at 52-52. But Albany answered with a backdoor layup with about 40 seconds to go to take a 54-52 lead.

Needing a bucket to tie the game, the Dogs turned the ball over without a shot, and Albany made a free throw with four seconds to play to make it 55-52 and then got an offensive rebound on a missed free throw and ran out the clock.

"What a game! It went back and forth to the end," said coach Phil Carlson. "We lead by as many as 11, and they lead by as much as seven."

Sophomore Ben Moser drives through a crowd of Albany defenders to score a hoop in the fourth quarter on Thursday. Moser scored a career-high 27 points in the Dogs' 55-52 loss to the Huskies.

The Dogs used a 10-point run in the first quarter to erase an 8-5 deficit and take a 15-8 lead. Moser hit back-to-back three-pointers to start that run.

The Dogs then scored eight points in the first minute of the second quarter to take a 25-14 lead, their largest of the game, with Moser completing a three-point play and making another three-pointer and sophomore Cory Nietfeld hitting a short jumper on an alley oop for Paynesville's points.

The Dogs, however, scored only four more points in the next seven minutes of the second quarter, and Albany used a 15-0 run, including three three-pointers, to take a 32-29 lead at the half.

After Albany started the second half with two quick hoops, the Dogs outscored the Huskies 13-4 over the rest of the third quarter to take a 42-40 lead going into the final quarter.

The two teams traded hoops for the first couple minutes of the final quarter, but Albany tied the game at 46-46 with five minutes to play. Moser gave the Dogs a 49-47 lead with a three-point play with three minutes to play, and when Albany tied the game again at 49-49 Nietfeld hit a short jumper in the low post to give the Dogs' their last lead at 51-49.

Albany outscored the Dogs 6-1 over the final two minutes to win.

Moser's career high of 27 points included 15 points in the first half and eight points in the final quarter. He also had ten rebounds.

Nietfeld had 13 points, nine rebounds, and nine steals, earning praise from Carlson for his defense. "All the players worked their 'butts off,' and we had great opportunities to win. We need to capitalize, and as the players keep getting better and strongerÉwe will come out on top," added Carlson.

The Dogs are now 2-11 overall and 0-5 in the West Central Conference North. But of their five conference losses, two have been by three points or less and a third was by seven points.

This week, the Dogs hosted Melrose on Tuesday. They will travel to Sauk Centre on Friday for another conference game and will travel to Howard Lake next Monday for a nonconference game.

Albany--	14	18	8	15	- 55
Paynesville--	17	12	13	10	- 52

SCORING: (FG-FT/FTA-PTS)
Albany 55 - Tom Hanson 6-0/0-12; Eric Harlander 4-0/0-12; Bryce Rush-meyer 3-4/4-10; Josh Overman 2-4/8-8; Ricky Hendrickson 3-0/1-6; Josh Wolford 3-0/0-6; Mike Stiller 0-1/2-1; TOTALS: FG 21, FT 9/15, 3's 4.

Paynesville 52 - Ben Moser 10-4/6-27; Cory Nietfeld 6-0/1-13; Trent Hansen 2-2/2-6; Mark Andrie 1-0/0-3; Derek Stanger 1-1/4-3; Aaron Braun 0-0/2-0; TOTALS: FG 20, FT 7/15, 3's 5.

STATISTICS: 3-pointers - 5 Moser 3; Andrie 1; Nietfeld 1; Rebounds - 25 Moser 10; Nietfeld 9; Assists - 12 Mike Houske 3; Nietfeld 3; Steals - 13 Nietfeld 9; Hansen 2; Stanger 2; Blocks - 3.

LPGE 72, Paynesville 65
The Bulldogs lost a conference game at LPGE on Monday, Jan. 24, 72-65. The Thunder led 40-28 at the half and then outscored the Dogs 26-19 in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs' starters cut the deficit to 13 with three minutes to go and their subs cut into the lead even more, with senior A.J. Benson making a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the final 72-65.

The two teams combined for 16 three-pointers (nine for LPGE and seven for Paynesville). LPGE's leading scorer made seven three-pointers for all 21 of his points.

Moser led the Dogs with 21 points, including four three-pointers. Junior Mark Andrie added ten points, including a pair of treys.

Nietfeld had 17 points and led the team with 11 rebounds and three blocks. He also had three assists, while Andrie had four.

LPGE's "team speed was a lot for us to handle," said Carlson, "and they shot well from the perimeter. However, in the end, we managed to capitalize on their missed shots and really made a good run on them."

Carlson also praised junior Aaron Braun for his work on the boards, grabbing five rebounds and scoring eight points for the Dogs.

Paynesville--	16	12	19	18	- 65
LPGE--	22	18	26	6	- 72

SCORING: (FG-FT/FTA-PTS)
Paynesville 65 - Ben Moser 8-1/2-21; Cory Nietfeld 7-3/4-17; Mark Andrie 4-0/0-10; Aaron Braun 4-0/0-8; Trent Hansen 2-0/0-4; A.J. Benson 1-0/0-3; Mike Houske 1-0/0-2; TOTALS: FG 27, FT 4/6, 3's 7.

LPGE 72 - Hanson 7-0/0-21; Pommier 5-1/4-11; Scheve 5-0/0-10; Rosckes 4-0/0-8; Kuelbs 2-2/3-7; Siegle 2-3/4-7; Fink 1-0/0-3; Dotson 1-0/0-2; Pohlmann 1-0/0-2; Minke 0-1/2-1; Estrada 0-0/1-0; Miller 0-0/1-0; TOTALS: FG 28, FT 7/15, 3's 9.

STATISTICS: 3-pointers - 7 Moser 4; Andrie 2; Benson 1; Rebounds - 27 Nietfeld 11; Moser 6; Braun 5; Assists - 11 Andrie 4; Nietfeld 3; Steals - 5 Nietfeld 3; Blocks - 3 Nietfeld 3.