ALBANY, N.Y. – The highlight of the University at Albany men's basketball 2018-19 non-conference schedule has arrived with the highly-anticipated trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland for the final leg of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic.

The Great Danes (2-4) have played two of their four scheduled tournament games already in the United States.  First, the team hosted Oneonta at SEFCU Arena, defeating the Red Dragons 79-62.  Next, UAlbany took a trip to Wisconsin to face off against UW-Milwaukee.  In that game, the Danes erased a 12-point first-half deficit to hold a slight halftime lead, but ultimately saw momentum swing against them late in the second to fall to the Panthers 79-70.

Twenty-four hours after returning to Albany, the team was in the air again on a flight headed to Dublin en route to their final destination in Belfast.  UAlbany will have three days in Belfast before playing their first of two games to close out their tournament schedule.

UAlbany will participate in the Samson Bracket, which includes LIU Brooklyn, Dartmouth, and Marist.  The Danes' first game will be Thursday, November 29 against LIU Brooklyn.  Depending on the result of their game and the Dartmouth/Marist game, UAlbany will play either Dartmouth or Marist in either the consolation or championship game on Friday, November 30.

LIU Brooklyn last played NJIT, falling by seven points to the Highlanders, 77-70.  The Blackbirds have lost their last three in a row, including their first two Belfast Classic games at San Francisco, 84-52, and at UW-Milwaukee in overtime, 92-87.  The Blackbirds were picked to finish third in the NEC this season.

Dartmouth last played at San Francisco immediately before making the trip to Belfast.  Against the Dons, the Big Green fell 84-65.  Three days prior, Dartmouth visited #22 Buffalo, falling 110-71

Marist last played Buffalo, falling to the Bulls 76-49.  The Red Foxes have also lost three straight, starting November 13 against Lehigh, 78-72, and continuing through November 20 at Stephen F. Austin for their first Belfast Classic game, 64-60.

Staggered with UAlbany's Samson bracket in Belfast is the Goliath bracket, featuring Buffalo, UW-Milwaukee, San Francisco, and Stephen F. Austin.  The Goliath Bracket plays its games Friday and Saturday, while the Samson Bracket plays Thursday and Friday.

All games in the Samson bracket can be viewed on CBS Sports Network through participating television providers.

Following the tournament, the Great Danes will enjoy a week off before returning to SEFCU Arena on Saturday, December 8 to host Monmouth.

THE OUTLOOK: LIU BROOKLYN (3-3) │ Thursday, November 29, 2:00 p.m. (EST) │ Belfast, Northern Ireland

Last we met: First meeting

Series History: 0-0
2017-18 Record: 18-17, (10-8 NEC); fourth place NEC, NEC champion, NCAA first round
Top Offensive Player: Raiquan Clark, Sr., G/F, (22.3 / 4.8 / 1.8)

THE OUTLOOK: DARTMOUTH (3-3) │ Friday, November 30, TBA│ Belfast, Northern Ireland

Last we met: W, 91-73, November 22, 2017, Hanover, N.H.

Series History: UAlbany leads 5-4
2017-18 Record: 7-20, (3-11 Ivy League); eighth place Ivy League
Top Offensive Player: Adrease Jackson, So., F, (14.0 / 7.2 / 0.7)

THE OUTLOOK: MARIST (1-4) │ Friday, November 30, TBA │ Belfast, Northern Ireland

Last we met: W, 78-66, December 7, 2016, Albany, N.Y.

Series History: UAlbany leads 10-2
2017-18 Record: 6-25, (4-14 MAAC); 11th place MAAC, MAAC first round
Top Offensive Player: Brian Parker, Sr., G, (14.8 / 5.0 / 3.0)

Tale of the Tape

• UAlbany is 1-2 away from home this season
• LIU Brooklyn is 1-2 away from home
• Dartmouth is 1-3 away from home
• Marist is 0-4 away from home
• The games in Belfast will be each of the for Samson bracket teams' first neutral site games of the season
• Dartmouth has five players averaging double-digit scoring
• If UAlbany draws Dartmouth, they meet again in Albany on December 15
• All four teams in the Samson Bracket have lost at least two straight games
• UAlbany ranks second in the America East in scoring defense (69.8) and 3FG% (.359)
• LIU Brooklyn leads the NEC in blocked shots (5.5) and ranks second in scoring offense (81.7)
• Dartmouth leads the Ivy League in scoring offense (84.7), 3FG% (.435), FT% (.768), assists (18.0) and assist/turnover ratio (1.44)
• Marist ranks second in the MAAC in rebounding defense (32.3)