ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's basketball team is set to compete in its final non-conference game of the 2022-23 season, a road matchup against one of the nation's top teams in No. 13 Virginia. The Cavaliers were ranked No. 13 in the latest poll from the Associated Press (Dec. 26). The game will air on the ACC Network and will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team in Albany.
 
Game Info
Wednesday, December 28 – at No. 13 Virginia
6:00 p.m. EST
ACCN | ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team | Live Stats
 
Leading the Pack

• Gerald Drumgoole Jr. currently leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.3 points per outing. He leads the team three points made per game (2.9), free throws (42), and minutes (30.2).
• Jonathan Beagle is now a three-time America East Rookie of the Week. He sits second on the team in scoring (11.4) and leads the team and sits sixth in the conference in rebounds (6.7). In the team's last win over NIU, the big man had 14 points in 32 minutes of action, including a clutch bucket in the final minute to secure the win for UAlbany.
• Aaron Reddish sits third on the team with 8.4 points per game. The defensive menace finds offensive success from beyond the arc, where he is currently shooting at a clip of 36.1%.
• Malik Edmead has been on a new level for the Great Danes in his last three games. He has had season-highs, scoring 12 points twice and 16 points against Loyola Chicago. After not scoring more than four in the teams first seven games, Edmead has posted at least nine points in his last seven. He leads the team in assists with 2.3 per game.
• Da'Kquan Davis got back to form in his last outing, dropping 14 against NIU. The grad transfer broke a seven-game streak in which he did not reach double-figures.
• The Great Danes are averaging 68 points per game while holding opponents to 74.9 points. The team is shooting 41.2% from the field, 33.3% from three, and 68.3% from the charity stripe.
• UAlbany is averaging 33.9 rebounds, opponents are averaging 34.5.

 
Last Time Out
The UAlbany men's basketball team was able to hold its lead over the Northern Illinois Huskies last 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.

• 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

 
Scouting No. 13 Virginia
The Cavaliers come into Wednesday's matchup as the 13^th ranked team in the nation, according to the latest AP Poll (Dec. 26). The team is 8-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play. The team started off 8-0, but most recently suffered back-to-back losses against No. 5 Houston (61-69) and No. 22 Miami (64-66).  

• As a team, the Cavaliers are averaging 70.2 points while holding opponents to 59.8
• Virginia is hooting 45.4% from the field, 36.5% from three, and 72.2% from the free throw line.
• Virginia has used the same starting lineup in all 10 games thus far – Kihei Clark, Jayden Gardner, Armaan Franklin, Reece Beekman, and Kadin Shedrick.
• Clark leads the team in scoring with 11.5 per game, followed closely by Gardner with 11.4. They are the only two Cavaliers who average double-figures.
• Gardner leads the team in rebounds at 5.9, Beekman and Clark lead in assists at 5.1, and Shedrick leads with 1.8 blocks per game.

 
#AEHoops Notes (12.27.22)
America East men's hoops teams wrap up non-conference play this week before the league schedule kicks off on Saturday.
 
UMass Lowell beat Boston University to improve to 12-2 on the season and will take its best-ever record into league play. UMBC plays at Maryland on ESPNU on Wednesday and will take a six-game win streak into that contest. Bryant beat CAA-favorite Towson last week to improve to 9-4.
 
Conference play kicks off Saturday with the first of 72 league games kicking off. Conference positioning will again prove key for the Jersey Mikes #AEPlayoffs. Every round of the Jersey Mikes #AEPlayoffs will take place on the higher seed's home court and earning home court advantage will prove crucial once again. 
 
The league champion will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, where America East teams have won nine games all-time, including UMBC's historic upset of Virginia in 2018.
 
2022-23 Weekly Award Winners (Dec. 27)
Player of the Week
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, UMass Lowell – Sr., Bamako, Mali

• Led UMass Lowell to a win over Boston University with an all-around stellar performance.
• Scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
• This is Coulibaly's second #AEHoops Player of the Week honor of the season.

 
Rookie of the Week
Jonathan Beagle, UAlbany – Fr., Forward, Hudson Falls, N.Y.

• Scored 14 points in lone game of the week, a win vs. Northern Illinois on Tuesday.
• Added three assists.
• Scored career-high 21 points in only 19 minutes of action in win over Loyola.
• This is Beagle's third #AEHoops Rookie of the Week honor of the season.

 
Coming off winning it's league-best ninth men's basketball title, Vermont is the favorite in the 2022-23 America East Men's Basketball preseason poll. The Catamounts, who also claimed their league-record sixth-straight regular-season title last season, edged out league newcomer Bryant atop the poll. Vermont and Bryant combined to claim four of the six preseason All-Conference team members, which was also unveiled with the poll.
 
Binghamton's Jacob Falko is the lone returning first-team All-America East team member from last season on the preseason All-League squad. He is joined by UMass Lowell's Max Brooks along with Bryant's Charles Pride, a first-team all-NEC choice last year, and Earl Timberlake, as well as Vermont's Dylan Penn and Finn Sullivan.
 
Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops
It was announced this fall that UAlbany renewed its partnership with ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team and City Line Bar & Grill. Coaches Dwayne Killings and Colleen Mullen, along with select student-athletes, will join ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team's Charlie Voelker and Dan Bahl every Monday from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. live from City Line Bar & Grill for a weekly segment entitled 'Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops'. 
 
Fans are invited to come out to City Line Bar & Grill to join Coach Killings, Coach Mullen, student-athletes and the ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team crew. Food and drink specials will be available on a weekly basis as the teams embark on their new seasons and talk hoops every Monday. 
 
Postgame Show Presented by Northwestern Mutual – Capital Region
This fall, the UAlbany men's basketball team announced a new segment with ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team. The UAlbany Basketball Postgame Show Presented by Northwestern Mutual – Capital Region will begin immediately following all games, home and away, for fans to listen to as they commute home or tune in from a distance.
 
The show is set to run for 30 minutes following the final buzzer on 104.5 The Team. Fans will hear initial reactions and a game recap to start the segment followed by interviews with the team. Coach Dwayne Killings and select student-athletes will join ESPN Radio's Rodger Wyland and Michael Johnson Jr. to break down the contest, give insights, opinions, responses, and to discuss the team's next matchup.
 
Fans can tune in to ESPN Radio 104.5 the Team by turning the dial on their radio or by streaming on their computers or smart phones.
 
Home Game Location
Earlier this summer, the UAlbany Athletic Department announced transformational renovations of both SEFCU Arena and the Physical Education Building that will improve the fan experience and provide state-of-the-art facilities for the University's athletic programs and Capital Region community events. Due to the construction, the team will play all of its 2022-23 home games at the McDonough Sports Complex on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College.
 
FREE with your ID
UAlbany and Hudson Valley students can attend UAlbany basketball home games all season long for FREE. Students who attend games simply need to bring their school-issued ID cards to gain admission to the McDonough Sports Complex.
 
Roster Changes
In total, only seven Great Danes return from last year's roster. Those still with the program are Ny'Mire Little, Gerald Drumgoole Jr., Trey Hutcheson, Aaron Reddish, Tairi Ketner, Justin Neely, and Will Amica.
 
Six new faces join this year's team. Joining the program are transfers Da'Kquan Davis (Arcadia), Malik Edmead (Merrimack), Sarju "Juice" Patel (Cornell), and Japannah Kellogg (Green Bay). Freshman joining the team include local standouts Jonathan Beagle (St. Thomas More) and Marcus Jackson (Cushing Academy).
 
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2022-23 season are now on sale. To purchase your season tickets, just log in to your online Ticket Return account and select 2022-23 men's basketball. Renewals can be processed online, and game tickets will be delivered to your mobile device or, if you choose, emailed. To start your season ticket renewal, click here. If you are a first-time season ticket buyer, click here.
 
Social Central
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.