ALBANY, N.Y. – Fresh off of securing their first conference victory of the season and the first win of 2019, the University at Albany men's basketball team will hit the road for one game to visit New Hampshire on Wednesday.
The Great Danes (6-15, 1-5 AE) finally broke through in their last game, dispatching the visiting Hartford Hawks 84-77 to snap a five-game losing streak. Freshman guard Antonio Rizzuto, after scoring a career-high 21 points in the one-point overtime loss to Stony Brook, scored 21 points for the second straight game to help the Danes claim victory. For his efforts, Rizzuto was named America East Rookie of the Week, becoming the second Great Dane this season to earn a weekly award, following Cameron Healy being named Rookie on December 3.
Before the Hartford game, UAlbany had suffered back-to-back one-point overtime losses to UMBC and Stony Brook in which the Danes led in the final seconds. In both games, the opponent hit a three to take a one-point lead in the final moments. UAlbany came out firing against Hartford, starting the game on an 8-1 run. The Danes led by as many as 18 before Hartford mounted a furious comeback, cutting the lead to just three. UAlbany held fast and pulled away late to defeat the Hawks by seven.
New Hampshire last played Hartford as well last Wednesday before sitting idle over the weekend with a bye. On a day where most of the presumed favorites in the America East's matchups struggled, Hartford was the one team to take care of business, rolling over the Wildcats 74-39. It was New Hampshire's fourth-straight loss, and 15th in their last 16 games.
With UAlbany's first conference win, the Great Danes have improved from ninth place to a seventh place in the America East standings. Vermont overtook Stony Brook for the top spot after defeating the Seawolves head-to-head over the weekend, and defending champion UMBC has moved ahead of UMass Lowell by half a game to take sole possession of third. New Hampshire currently holds the eighth place spot.
Following the game against the Wildcats, UAlbany will return to SEFCU Arena to host Binghamton on Saturday, February 2 for the 2018-19 season's Big Purple Growl.
THE OUTLOOK: NEW HAMPSHIRE (3-16, 1-5 AE) | Wednesday, January 30, 7:00 p.m. | Durham, N.H.
Last we met: W, 83-74, February 2, 2018, Albany, N.Y.
Tale of the Tape
- UAlbany is 2-7 on the road this season
- New Hampshire is 3-6 at home
- UAlbany is 8-10 lifetime visiting New Hampshire
- UAlbany has won six of the last nine against New Hampshire
- New Hampshire lost to Boston University 82-53; UAlbany lost 71-61
- New Hampshire lost to Niagara 71-67; UAlbany won 79-74
- New Hampshire lost to Dartmouth 76-68; UAlbany went 0-2 against Dartmouth
- New Hampshire defeated UMass Lowell 68-64; UAlbany lost 84-72
- New Hampshire lost to Stony Brook 62-44; UAlbany lost 67-66
- New Hampshire lost to Vermont 73-59; UAlbany lost 80-51
- New Hampshire lost to Hartford 74-39; UAlbany won 84-77
- New Hampshire lost to UMBC 59-51; UAlbany lost 65-64
- New Hampshire ranks second in the America East in threes per game (8.9); UAlbany ranks third (8.5)
- Cameron Healy leads in 3FG (3.1), 3FG% (.404), and FT% (.918)
- Ahmad Clark leads in assists (4.3)
Series History: UAlbany leads 23-16
2017-18 Record: 10-21, (6-10 AE); seventh place AE, AE quarterfinals
Top Offensive Player: Josh Hopkins, So., G, (10.2 / 3.0 / 1.3)
