Men's Basketball Hosts UMass Lowell Wednesday for You Can Play Night and Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week

EVENT TICKETS | YOU CAN PLAY | COACHES VS. CANCER

ALBANY, N.Y. – Nearing the mid-way point of the conference slate, University at Albany men's basketball (15-6, 4-2 AE) faces UMass Lowell (7-13, 3-4 AE) at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday. The game from SEFCU Arena will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.   

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SUITS AND SNEAKERS AWARENESS WEEK

UAlbany men's basketball will participate in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week starting on Wednesday. Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Week is a nationwide event when basketball coaches across the country unite for a common cause, saving lives from cancer. Coaches and their staffs across the nation wear sneakers with their suits during games to:

• Raise awareness about the fight against cancer
• Share the importance of nutrition and physical activity in reducing one's risk of the disease
• Encourage people to educate themselves about cancer screenings and early detection
• Promote the American Cancer Society as a place for people facing cancer to turn to for free information, help and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Additionally, the Danes will sport gold Princess Lacey's Laces against the River Hawks. Princess Lacey's Laces are designed in honor of Lacey Holsworth, an 8-year-old Michigan State University basketball fan who passed away from cancer in 2014. These special gold laces are symbolic of the efforts to eliminate pediatric cancer.

To purchase Princess Lacey's Laces, visit Shoe Carnival stores or purchase online at shoecarnival.com/lacey. All funds benefit the pediatric cancer cause through the American Cancer society and Princess Lacey's Legacy.

YOU CAN PLAY

Ulbany Athletics and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) have teamed up with the America East Conference to promote the You Can Play Project initiative during upcoming America East Conference games.  A new You Can Play video will be shown, along with a member of SAAC reading the You Can Play Pledge at halftime. The video stars Great Danes student athletes who explain what You Can Play is and what it does for teammates, coaches and spectators. Fans will also have the opportunity to sign the pledge.

The mission of You Can Play is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation. You Can Play works to guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete judged by other athletes and fans alike, only by what they contribute to the sport or their team's success. You Can Play seeks to challenge the culture of locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on an athlete's skills, work ethic and competitive spirit.

The America East is the first Division I conference to partner with the You Can Play project, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.

MOHAWK HONDA SLAM DUNK EXPRESS

Don't blame the weather for why you couldn't make the game, jump on the campus bus loop to be dropped off at SEFCU Arena. Shuttles run to and from the Dutch Parking Lot and for students at the following locations and times:

UALBANY BASKETBALL WEEKLY ON MY4 – SPONSORED BY MOHAWK HONDA

For the second straight year, Will Brown will headline UAlbany Basketball Weekly Presented by Mohawk Honda on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m., with Rodger Wyland, Chris Onorato and Ashley Miller on NewsChannel 13 WNYT, MY4.

Wyland & co. will recap all the news and highlights of UAlbany's most recent games with Coach Brown from Mohawk Honda's show room in Glenville. The show will also spotlight player guests. WNYT's production will run weekly through the America East postseason.

CATCH 'EM ON THE TUBE

University at Albany athletics announced Jan. 11 that four premier America East match-ups for men's basketball will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel this winter. With the return of UAlbany students, TWCSC kicks off January with the men's Jan. 18 game against New York rival Binghamton. The mid-week men's match-up on Jan. 27 against UMass Lowell will also hit TWCSC at 7:00 p.m. The men's Big Purple Growl battle against storied rival Vermont will be available on Jan. 9 at 7:00 p.m. To conclude the TWCSC slate, fans can celebrate Valentine's Day with the men's Maine game on Feb. 14 at 2:00 p.m. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is available on Time Warner Cable channel 50 or 323 in high definition.

SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL

UAlbany holds a 3-1 Division I advantage in the series, taking the last three meetings. In the last match-up at SEFCU Arena, Evan Singletary went for 18 points on 4-for-6 from three and five rebounds. Ray Sanders added 12 points and a career-high seven assists.

Jahad Thomas returns to the River Hawks after suffering a knee injury last season. The redshirt sophomore leads a young UMass Lowell squad in scoring (12.9 PPG) and rebounding (7.5 RPG). Pat Duquette's roster features six true freshmen and three redshirts, with just two seniors, one junior and two sophomores. UMass Lowell also notches just three players over 6-6, going for a smaller line-up and tough match-ups in the frontcourt.

Despite playing small, the River Hawks are ranked second in conference-only field goal percentage (.494) and post a three-point shooting percentage of 38.9%, draining 8.3 treys per game. Duquette's team is second in conference-only assists with 15.4 per game.

UMass Lowell has lost is last two America East games by seven points or less, including a heartbreaker against New Hampshire in the final moments of the contest. The River Hawks downed Vermont and UMBC earlier in January.

BY THE NUMBERS

DIVISION I LEADING CAREER SCORERS

AMERICA EAST STAT UPDATE

TEAM - OVERALL

INDIVIDUAL - OVERALL