The Albany Patroons’ Greatest Games

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By ChuCk Miller

The Albany Patroons have experienced some fantastic highs throughout their time in the Capital District, and we thought we’d share a few of the Pats’ greatest contests. How many of these did you attend?

Albany Patroons v. CBA AllStars, Washington Avenue Armory, Albany, N.Y., February 19, 1983 (Albany wins 122-109) specialists: Detroit Spirits guard Tico Brown (who would later set a record for most points scored in a CBA career), Ohio Mixers guard Kevin Figaro (who scored 48 points in his first encounter with the Patroons), Spirits forward Clarence Kea, Rochester Zeniths forward Al Smith and Wisconsin Flyers center Joe Kopicki.

In the Patroons’ first year of operation, 1982-83, newly-hired head coach Phil Jackson’s first opportunity to shine with his new squad came when the Patroons hosted an All-Star contest that was comprised of the Continental Basketball Association All-Stars.

Davis, whose first two shots missed the basket completely, came alive in the second quarter. He got the rebound on Frankie Sanders’ 15-foot rim-bouncer and was fouled making the shot. Stepping to the free throw line, Davis calmly sank the charity point, putting Albany ahead 44-43.

Then the spotlight radiated on Larry Spriggs. Spriggs, the 1982 CBA Rookie of the Year, was sold to the Patroons by the financially destitute Las Vegas Silvers. Before the All-Star Game, Albany’s newest acquisition paid immediate dividends, averaging 23 points and 6 rebounds in 6 games. And in the third quarter of the All-Star Game, Spriggs scored eight quick points and bounced a no-look pass to Sanders for another basket.

The Pats won the All-Star Game, 122109, and defeated the best in the CBA. Larry Spriggs, leading all Patroons with 22 points, was named the Most Valuable Player of the game.

Albany Patroons v. Bay State Bombardiers, Brockton High School, Brockton, Mass., March 16, 1984 (Albany wins 117114 OT)

As the 1983-84 season came to a conclusion, the Albany Patroons finished second in the Eastern Division with a 25-19 record - and were headed for the playoffs. Their opponents in the best-of-five first round were the Bay State Bombardiers, guided by CBA All-Stars Joe Dawson and

Charlie Jones.

It was a best-of-five series, and Bay State had won the first two matches, and the Patroons were hoping to stave off elimination. After four quarters, the score was tied 114-114.

During the 1983-84 season, the CBA had a sudden-death overtime rule, where the first team to score three points in overtime were the victors.

Bay State’s Al Smith got the ball and attempted a three-pointer at the top of the key. The ball headed straight for the hoop. Phil Jackson stood up and grabbed his clipboard, consoling himself that he brought Albany to the playoffs, and if it weren’t for the overtime rule, next year he would take them further.

The ball went halfway through the cylinder, rolled around twice and fell out - right into the hands of Lowes Moore. No points for Bay State. Jackson dropped his clipboard and sat down, praying for a miracle.

Albany’s Lowes Moore described what happened next. “I remember receiving the basketball, and we had a play where we had Frankie J. and John Schweitz, who came off the bottom picks, but Phil gave me the green light at any time to shoot that shot if I wanted to, so as I was dribbling down, I was looking for them to come off the picks, but in my mind I had made up to shoot it soon as I got to the three-point line. I was just looking at them, looking, looking, looking, and I just pulled up and shot it, and we won the game. It was over. Three points. That was it ... I just felt like I could do anything in that situation.”

Moore’s 25foot shot gave the Patroons a 117-114 victory and saved them from elimination. Albany would later rally to win Gams 4 and 5, knocking Bay State completely out of the postseason.

Albany Patroons v. Wyoming Wildcatters, Washington Avenue Armory, Albany, N.Y.,

April 8, 1984 (Albany wins 119-109, first CBA championship)

In only their second year of existence, after beating the Bay State Bombardiers and the Puerto Rico Coquis in the playoffs, the Albany Patroons were now in the CBA championship series, facing the Wyoming Wildcatters in a bestof-five fight for the title. With both teams winning two games, the decider was held in a packed Armory.

The star of the night for Albany was Andre Gaddy. Gaddy, a 6’10” rookie from George Mason University, who averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds in the playoffs. Joined by Ralph McPherson, Derrick Rowland, Lowes Moore and Rudy

Macklin, the Pats pulled ahead in Game 5 and never looked back.

And as the minutes ticked away, Wyoming, down by 15, Wyoming called a timeout. The Armory erupted in cheers, whistles and applause. In the Armory’s “upper deck” seats, the fans unfurled a handmade banner - the Patroons’ Dutch shoe and ball logo with the words “CBA 83-84 Champs.”

After two more minutes of play, the game - and the season was finally over. Patroons 119, Wildcatters 109. Phil Jackson was given the CBA Championship Trophy, and he held it aloft while his team poured champagne on his head.

The next day, Pats fans packed Academy Park for a victory rally. Everybody involved, from Team President Jim Coyne to Mayor Tom Whalen, from team leader Lowes Moore to Playoff MVP Andre Gaddy, stood at the dais in Academy Park and thanked the people of the Capital District for supporting the “Champion” Patroons. Albany Patroons v. Wyoming Wildcatters, Washington Avenue Armory, Albany, N.Y., April 30, 1988 (Albany wins 105-96, wins second CBA championship).

Greatest Games from page 11

Bill Musselman was the head coach for the Patroons during the 1987-88 season, and he brought every weapon he could to Albany. That included future NBA stars like Tony Campbell, Scott Brooks, Tod Murphy and Rick Carlisle; along with Patroons legends Derrick Rowland and Lowes Moore; and an ace in the hole with former NBA superstar Micheal Ray Richardson.

Albany’s opponents in the 1987-88 CBA championship series were the Wyoming Wildcatters, a team who made the playoffs despite losing 20 of their last 23 games. Both teams battled through six exciting playoff games, and now it was down to a seventh no-tomorrow contest in the Armory. 5,000 Patroon supporters squeezed into the Armory, and a million hoop fans watched the game live on ESPN.

Although Wyoming had a lead going into the final minutes of the first half, Lowes Moore came off the bench and scored 13 points in the second quarter, including another halfcourt shot that put Albany in the lead.

But the hero of the night was Tod Murphy. What made Murphy’s 21 points in that match so remarkable was that he played the last four games of the championship series with an injury; his Achilles tendon had been banged in game 3 of the series. Murphy even gave up a 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors so he could help the Patroons win the championship.

And at the end of the match, the final score read Albany 105, Wyoming 96. And the Albany Patroons picked up their second championship in their six-year history. And for all his efforts, Tod Murphy captured the Most Valuable Player award.

Albany Patroons v. Grand Rapids Hoops, Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, N.Y., March 16, 1991 (Albany 97-5, Grand Rapids 892, Patroons complete perfect regular season home schedule)

Before this game, no professional basketball team, not the Lakers, nor the Celtics, nor the Knicks, not even the Harlem Globetrotters had ever won every home game. During the 1990-91 season, the Albany Patroons had won 27 home games in a row. Heck, they hadn’t lost at the Knickerbocker Arena (today MVP Arena) since the 1990 playoffs a year prior.

Twenty-seven home games ago, the Albany Patroons started the season with returning veterans Vince Askew and Mario Elie, new rookies in Paul “Snoop” Graham and Jeff Fryer, and NBA-experienced play- ers like Albert King. Like any CBA team, Albany’s lineup changed drastically during the season, as players floated to the NBA (Mario Elie), drifted to foreign lands (Mike Giomi), or limped to the disabled list (Willie McDuffie). But Patroons head coach George Karl’s run-and-pass offense and tungsten defense helped win game after game at the Knick (and more than a few on the road, where they went 22-6).

On this night, the Patroons’ Albert King was the star of the show. The NBA veteran pulled down 13 boards and scored 25 points, including swatting away most of the Hoops’ Ron Cavenall’s rebounds. King was later voted the CBA’s 1991 Newcomer of the Year. Albany’s Vince Askew also played hard in the game, scoring 18 points and dishing out seven assists. Albany even picked up five of seven “quarter points” in the standings, giving them the #1 seed in the CBA playoffs.

And although the Patroons could not claim that third championship in 1991 … a third championship would eventually happen at the Armory.

Albany Patroons v. Yakima Sun Kings, Washington Avenue Armory, May 2, 2019 (Albany wins 124-112, wins third professional championship and first TBL title)

In all their years, the Patroons had NEVER defeated the Yakima Sun Kings in a postseason game. And two of those losses (in 2007 and 2018) gave the Sun Kings their championships. But 2019 was different.

The Patroons and Sun Kings were scheduled for a best-of-three series, with the first two games in Washington State; the third, if necessary, would be played in Albany. But after the Patroons won the second match in overtime, the Armory was buzzing with excitement.

And although Yakima got off to a quick start in this winner-takes-all night, Albany’s Shadell Millinghaus snapped off 37 points in 48 minutes – he never went to the bench, he played every single minute of that match. And Joshua Cameron hit eight straight points – a 3-ball, two free throws and another 3-ball – to turn the Sun Kings’ lead into a deficit. And Albany never looked back.

It took 30 years between championship runs, but the Patroons finally claimed their third title. TBL Commissioner David Magley, who played on the Patroons’ 1984 championship team, proudly handed the MVP trophy to Shadell Millinghaus as confetti rained upon the Armory floor.