Albany, N.Y.- UAlbany (15-9, 7-3 AE) heads into the 15th annual Big Purple Growl game in hopes of its longest winning streak this season of four against Stony Brook (14-7, 9-1 AE) in the SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes are 2-0 when they play the Seawolves in the Big Purple Growl. Saturday's game will be televised on TWCS Channel 3 in Albany. Zach Bye will handle the play-by-play and will be assisted by John Quattrocchi with the color analysis.
• UAlbany is currently tied in third place with Boston U. at 7-3 record in the America East Conference standings. With a one game lead in front of the Great Danes are the Catamounts of Vermont 8-2, and in first with a two game lead are the Seawolves of Stony Brook at 9-1. UAlbany will play all three of those teams at SEFCU Arena later this month where the team is currently 9-0 in SEFCU this season and 12-0 dating back to last season.
Scouting Stony Brook
• Stony Brook has been on a tear, winning its last 11 of 12 games as the offense has averaged 68.7 points per game during the stretch. The Seawolves, like the Great Danes, have established its dominance at home with an undefeated record of 11-0 this season. However when Stony Brook travels away from Pritchard Gymnaisum, like most America East schools, has struggled recording three wins in nine games on the road. The Seawolves finish out their season with five of their final seven games on the road beginning with the Great Danes
• The Seawolves' offense is averaging 67.6 points per game while holding the opponents to a league-best 58.8 points on defense. Stony Brook's dominance, through 10 games, in league play has been boasting a stingy defense and strong rebounding margin (+7.3, 37.2-29.9) which is a league-best and 21st in the nation.
Series History
• UAlbany leads Stony Brook in the all-time series 35-20. Stony Brook took the first game of the home-and-away series in Pritchard Gymnasium, 81-68, on Jan. 8. The Seawolves shot lights out in that game going 56.4 percent (31-55 FG) from the field and a stunning 62.5 percent (10-16 3FG) from beyond the arc
• UAlbany and Stony Brook have been slowly building a rivalry between the two schools. The reason being for the mention of the rivalry is both teams, in the last six years, have taken the season series with no splits. Recently, Stony Brook has taken care of business in the America East tournament winning both matchups in the last two years.
Stony Brook Players To Watch
• Bryan Dougher is Stony Brook's team leader in scoring with 14.8 ppg, shooting 41.0 percent from the floor (48-116)
• Stony Brook' three players that are averaging eight-plus points and five-plus rebounds a game are Al Rapier (9.4ppg/5.8 reb), Dallis Joyner (8.2 ppg/6.4 reb), and Tommy Brenton (8.1 ppg/ 7.9 reb).
• Plummer went off against the Great Danes earlier this season, scoring a career-high 25 points in 20 minutes before fouling out
Big Purple Growl History
• UAlbany will have a sellout crowd this year (4,538) and have sold out the event five times total in the 15 year history.
• The Great Danes are 3-1 when they sell out at home during the BPG
• UAlbany has had an average crowd of 4,000 fans the last seven years.
Last Time Out
• The Great Danes won their third straight against UMBC, 87-76, on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
• Gerardo Suero had a career game, scoring 32 points in the game, 21 of them came in the first half.
• Mike Black continues to show he is one of the best PG's in the America East tallying seven points, seven assists, and five rebounds
