ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's basketball team continues its season-opening road swing with a visit to New York City for a showdown against Ivy League rival Columbia.
 
Game Info
November 11, 2023 at Columbia (7:00 pm)
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Game Notes
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany is 0-1 on the road this season; Columbia is 0-0 at home, and went 6-9 at home last season
• UAlbany will play six games this season before hosting a true home game in newly-renovated Broadview Center on November 29 against Boston University
• Columbia is 84-36 in home openers, and has won nine of its last 15
• The Lions return 90% of scoring from last year's team
• Saturday's game will be simulcast on SNY and ESPN+

Scouting Columbia
The Lions went 7-22 last season, including 2-12 against Ivy League opponents.  Columbia returns more than 90% of its scoring output from last year's team, one of three squads in the country, including Wisconsin and Northern Iowa, to hit that mark.  Additionally the Lions are one of 11 teams nationally to return 70% of their total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks from last year.  Columbia, picked to finish eighth in the 2023-24 Ivy League Preseason Coaches' Poll, dropped their season opener at Providence 78-59.  UAlbany is 7-1 in eight lifetime meetings against Columbia, and has won each of the last seven.
 
Last Time vs. Columbia
December 11, 2021 | Columbia was UAlbany's opponent for the date-shifted Big Purple Growl during the 2021-22 season.  The Great Danes outlasted the Lions in a 60-59 thriller, recording their seventh-straight victory in the series.  De'Vondre Perry hit two free throws with three seconds left on the clock to put UAlbany ahead by one and seal the game.  Perry finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, leading the Great Danes in both categories.
 
Last Time Out
The Great Danes opened the 2023-24 season at Atlantic-10 foe UMass.  The Minutemen jumped out to an early lead, kicking off the game on a 12-0 run, before UAlbany closed within two, 17-15, mid-way through the first half.  UMass regrouped to take a 46-20 lead at halftime, and extended their advantage to 30 mid-way through the second half.  By the end of the game, UMass had won 92-71, but had only outscored UAlbany by one point in the second 20 minutes.
 
Around the America East
Two teams in the America East remain unbeaten.  UMass Lowell and Vermont each won their season openers and have not played again since.  Three teams are .500, splitting their first two games: Bryant, Maine, and New Hampshire.  The remaining four teams, Binghamton, NJIT, UAlbany, and UMBC, are winless in their only game so far this season.
 
Saturday's America East Games

• Marist at UMBC, 3:30 pm
• Saint Peter's at NJIT, 4:00 pm
• Plattsburgh St. at Vermont, 7:00 pm
• UAlbany at Columbia, 7:00 pm

Picked Seventh
The Great Danes were picked to finish seventh in the 2023 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll.  UAlbany drew 23 total points, just two behind projected sixth-place finisher UMBC, and ahead of both New Hampshire, with 18 points, and NJIT, with 10.  Defending champion Vermont was the preseason favorite, drawing 62 points and six of a possible eight first-place votes.  UMass Lowell trailed in second, with 55 points and the remaining three first-place votes.
 
Doc Sauers Classic
Created this season to honor legendary UAlbany men's basketball coach Richard "Doc" Sauers, the Classic, a multi-team event presented by the Albany Med Health System, will feature the Great Danes, Quinnipiac, and Army West Point.  UAlbany will first play Quinnipiac on the road on November 19, before returning to the Capital Region two days later for the program's first-ever game played at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.
 
Barclays
The UAlbany men's basketball team will play a game this season in Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  On December 10, the Great Danes will take part in the NABC Brooklyn Showcase against Temple.
 
Broadview Center
The Great Danes are set to open the brand-new Broadview center in a Nov. 29 matchup against Boston University.  Formally SEFCU Arena, Broadview Center underwent transformational renovations over the past year, upgrading fan amenities and installing new basketball locker rooms while also rotating the aspect of the court.  The building is in the process of finishing construction, with the team's game against the Terriers marked as the first official event held in the arena.  Due to its construction, UAlbany played home games last season at Hudson Valley Community College.
 
New Look Danes
The Great Danes have an almost entirely new team, with nine new student-athletes joining the quad along with six returners.  Returning for UAlbany this year is Jonathan Beagle, Justin Neely, Marcus Jackson, Aaron Reddish, Ny'Mire Little, and Will Amica. New to the team is Marcus Filien, Amar'e Marshall, Sebastian Thomas, Jack Margoupis, Bautista Giralt, Muneer Newton, Zach Matulu, Tyler Bertram, and Zane Adnan.
 
Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops
Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops is officially back for a third season.  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
The UAlbany Basketball Postgame Show returns this season to 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.  The show 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.
 
FREE with your ID
UAlbany 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 brand new Broadview Center.
 
Social Central
Stay up to date with UAlbany men's basketball by following the team on X (@UAlbanyMBB) and Instagram (@ualbany_mbb) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.

Next: UAlbany visits Seton Hall on November 15.