ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's basketball team visits Philadelphia for a first-ever meeting with CAA rival Drexel.
 
Game Info
December 16, 2023 at Drexel (2:00 pm)
Live Stats | FloHoops | Game Notes
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany is 3-4 away from home this season; Drexel is 2-1 at home
• Saturday is the first meeting between UAlbany and Drexel
• UAlbany ranks fourth in the America East in scoring offense; Drexel ranks second in the CAA in scoring defense
• Jonathan Beagle leads the America East in rebounding
• Amar'e Marshall ranks second in the America East in steals
• Sebastian Thomas ranks third in the America East in scoring and fifth in assists

Scouting Drexel
The Dragons are .500 through 10 games in 2023-24, and have dropped each of their last two to Princeton and West Virginia.  Before the skid, Drexel had upset then-#18 Villanova 57-55.  Drexel went 17-15 last season, and 10-8 against CAA opponents, and had the season end in the CAA quarterfinal round against UNC Wilmington.  The Dragons were picked to finish third in the 2023-24 CAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, and had senior forward Amari Williams named CAA Preseason Player of the Year after earning his second-straight CAA Defensive Player of the Year award last season.  Williams was also a finalist for the National Defensive Player of the Year award.  He scored 13.7 points and grabbed 8.8 rebounds last season, and added 67 blocked shots.  Four of Drexel's five starters are seniors or graduate students.  UAlbany and Drexel will be playing for the first time in history.
 
Last Time Out
The Great Danes made their first of two trips during the 2023-24 season to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, to play Temple for the NABC Brooklyn Showcase.  The Owls emerged victorious, ending the Great Danes' five-game winning streak, 78-73.  The game featured five ties and five lead changes, with the Owls at one point holding a 10-point advantage in the final three minutes.  UAlbany hung around however, and closed within four with just over a minute remaining, but Temple was able to hold on for the five-point victory.  Jonathan Beagle recorded his third double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
 
Around the America East
Seven teams in the conference are .500 or better and have won six or more games this season.  Vermont leads the way at 8-3, followed by UMass Lowell one-half game back at 7-3.  Maine joins Vermont as the only team with eight victories, having played 12 games.  The Black Bears currently hold the longest winning streak in the conference at four games.  New Hampshire is fourth at 7-4, ahead of a two-way tie for fifth between Binghamton and UAlbany, each 6-4.  Bryant has dropped two-straight and is now 6-6, ahead of UMBC at 5-8 and NJIT at 2-7.
 
Saturday's America East Games

• NJIT at Niagara, 1:00 pm
• Bryant at Towson, 2:00 pm
• UAlbany at Drexel, 2:00 pm
• Vermont at Virginia Tech, 4:00 pm
• CCSU at UMass Lowell, 5:00 pm

Common Opponents

• Temple
  • UAlbany: 12/10 vs. Temple, L, 73-78
  • Drexel: 11/14 vs. Temple, L, 64-66

Helping Hand
Junior guard Sebastian Thomas tied the UAlbany men's basketball single-game record, recording 10 assists in the Great Danes' victory over Boston University on November 29.  Thomas is the first Great Dane to record 10 assists in a game since Ahmad Clark did so at Niagara on December 31, 2018, and is the sixth player in program history to hit the mark, with Jamar Wilson doing so twice in his career.
 
Three-for-Three
With the victory over Boston University, the UAlbany men's basketball team has won three-straight games.  The last three-game winning streak the Great Danes had was January 12-19, 2022, when they defeated UMass Lowell, NJIT, and UMBC.
 
Opening Night
The UAlbany men's basketball team was hosted the first game in the newly renovated Broadview Center on November 29, 2023.  It was the Great Danes' first true home game since hosting Hartford on March 1, 2022.  Playing in front of a debut crowd of 3,103, The Great Danes defeated former America East rival Boston University 86-72.
 
Player of the Week
For his efforts against Siena in the 2023 Albany Cup, as well has his performance against Army West Point in the previous game, Amar'e Marshall was named America East Offensive Player of the Week.  He averaged 24.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in two wins for the Great Danes, going off for a game- and career-high 33 against Siena.  Marshall is UAlbany's first Player of the Week since Cameron Healy on January 27, 2020.
 
For the Cup
UAlbany reclaimed the Albany Cup, defeating Crosstown Rival Siena 86-51 at MVP Arena.  It was UAlbany's first win in the series since the 2017-18 season, but their third in the last four meetings, and sixth in the last nine against the Saints.  Amar'e Marshall led all scorers with 33 points, and UAlbany shot 70% from the floor in the second half, going off for 58 points after holding a five-point lead at halftime.
 
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 hosts Sacred Heart on December 19.