Score: UAlbany 83, NIU 78

Location: NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois   
 
Records: UAlbany (5-9, 0-0 America East) | NIU (3-9, 0-0 MAC)
 
Short Story: The University at Albany men's basketball team was able to hold its lead over the Northern Illinois Huskies on Tuesday afternoon. The Great Danes led for 92% of the game, not surrendering the lead after taking it three minutes into the game. UAlbany led by as much as 13, but the Huskies battled back in the second half – tying the game with 7:46 remaining. Strong performances from Gerald Drumgoole Jr. Jonathan Beagle, Da'Kquan Davis, Malik Edmead, and Trey Hutcheson were enough to keep the Great Danes ahead however in what can only be described as a total team effort.


Head Coach Dwayne Killings: "I'm really proud of our guys after getting a really good home win, 83-78, over a really good NIU team that's trying to find their way. What I'm most proud of is our ability to rebound the ball today. I think when we've done that we've proven to be a pretty good basketball team."

Key Stat Lines

• Gerald Drumgoole Jr. led UAlbany with 23 points. His 11 rebounds put him over the top for a double-double, his first of the year.
• Jonathan Beagle made clutch free throws at thew end of the game to secure the win for UAlbany. The rookie finished with 14 points, going 6-10 from the field.
• Da'Kquan Davis finished with 14 points, his first game in double figures since dropping 13 against Austin Peay on Nov. 21.
• Malik Edmead finished with 12 points, going a perfect 2-2 from three and 4-4 from the charity stripe. 10 of his 12 came in the second half. He had a team-high six assists and two steals.
• Trey Hutcheson knocked down two three pointers to finish with 10 points overall. The senior added four rebounds, and assist, and the team's lone block.
• UAlbany shot 46.9% (30-64) from the field and 41.4% (12-29) from beyond the arc. NIU shot 53.7% (29-54) from the field and 29.4% (5-17) from deep.
• UAlbany won the rebounding war 38-30

How it Happened:

• UAlbany got out to the early lead, 9-7, by the first media TO. Sarju Patel led the team with five points, hitting a big three. Gerald Drumgoole Jr. had the other four points for the Great Danes.
• UAlbany forced a NIU TO just a few minutes later after Da'Kquan Davis knocked down a three to put the Great Danes ahead 17-10.
• The Great Danes pushed the lead to 10 points by the U8 media TO with the scoreboard reading 29-19. Back-to-back and-ones from Drumgoole Jr. and Tairi Ketner extended the lead for UAlbany and energized the bench.
• The Great Danes withheld a six-point lead, 34-28, by the final media TO of the first half.
• The Huskies were about to end the half on an 8-0 run before Malik Edmead hit a pair of free throws with 4.8 remaining. The score would be the last of the half, with UAlbany going to the locker room up 44-37.
• The Great Danes shot 44.7% (17-38) from the field and 33.3% (4-12) from three in the first half. NIU shot 50% (13-26) from the field and 33.3% (3-9) from deep.
• The Huskies led with 11 turnovers at the break, UAlbany had just five.
• UAlbany started the second half hot behind the arc with Trey Hutcheson, Da'Kquan Davis, and Gerald Drumgoole Jr. all hitting threes, pushing the lead back to 11 points.
• The Great Danes called TO with 15:49 on the scoreboard, up 53-47. The Huskies were able to string some points together resulting in a 5-0 run.
• NIU was able to cut the lead to just five, 58-53, by the U12 media TO. UAlbany started the second half shooting just 38.5% (5-13) from the field but sank four three-pointers.
• For the first time since early in the first half, NIU tied the game at 64 with 7:46 remining.
• The Huskies were able to bring the score back within one point, 71-70, with five minutes remining but were unable to take the lead. Shortly after, the Great Danes went on a 7-0 run thanks to buckets from Davis and Edmead and a three from Drumgoole Jr.
• With one minute remaining The Great Danes maintained a 78-76 lead before Beagle was fouled in the lane, making the bucket.
• UAlbany was able to close the game out following free throws from Beagle and Drumgoole Jr.
• UAlbany shot 50% (13-26) from the field and 47.1% (8-17) from three in the second half. NIU shot 57.1% (16-28) from the field and 25% (2-8) from three.
   

Next: The Great Danes break for the holiday, returning on Dec. 28 for a road matchup against nationally ranked Virginia. Stay up to date with UAlbany men's basketball by following the team on Twitter (@UAlbanyMBB) and Instagram (@ualbany_mbb) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the season.