ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's basketball program, riding a five-game winning streak, makes its first of two trips this season to the Barclays Center on Sunday for a showdown against first-time opponent Temple as part of the NABC Brooklyn Showcase.
 
Game Info
December 10, 2023 vs. Temple (7:00 pm)
NABC Brooklyn Showcase | Live Stats | YES Network | 103.9 FM The Breeze | Game Notes
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany is 3-3 away from home in 2023-24; Temple is 2-1 away from home
• UAlbany has won five-straight games, its longest winning streak since winning six-straight during the 2017-18 season
• Jonathan Beagle ranks third in the America East in rebounding
• Sebastian Thomas ranks fourth in the America East in scoring, and Amar'e Marshall ranks seventh
• Thomas ranks fourth in the America East in assists per game
• Marshall ranks third in the America East in steals per game
• Sunday's game will be broadcast on the YES Network 

Scouting Temple
The Owls, a first-time opponent for UAlbany, are 5-3 this season, winning each of their first three games but going 2-3 since, with back-to-back losses to Columbia and Ole Miss.  Temple ended its brief skid outlasting La Salle 106-99 in a triple-overtime thriller, but suffered a setback against Saint Joseph's in their ensuing game.  After going 16-16 in 2022-23, with a 10-8 mark against AAC teams and falling in the AAC quarterfinal round to Cincinnati, Temple was picked to finish 12th in the 2023-24 AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.  The Owls feature five players who average double-figure scoring, led by Hysier Miller's 17.3 points per game.  Jahlil White nearly averages a double-double, with 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.  Temple features a first-year head coach, Adam Fisher, who earned his first head coaching position with the Owls after serving as Associate Head Coach at Penn St.
 
Last Time Out
The UAlbany men's basketball team hosted SUNY Potsdam for its third-straight game in the newly renovated Broadview Center.  The Bears are the Great Danes' third-most played opponent in program history, with now 80 meetings between the teams after the latest matchup.  UAlbany jumped out to a 56-29 halftime lead and won by a final score of 98-59, marking the fifth-straight victory for the Great Danes.  Five players scored in double-figures, led by 12 each from Tyler Bertram and Marcus Jackson.  Justin Neely, more than a year removed from a season-ending injury, made his 2023-24 debut, playing 13 minutes and scored five points.
 
Around the America East
Six of nine America East teams have won six or more games through the first third of the season.  Vermont has jumped into the top spot at 8-2, followed by UMass Lowell at 6-2.  UAlbany, riding the longest active winning streak in the league, has climbed into third place at 6-3.  Maine trails in fourth place at 7-4, ahead of Bryant and New Hampshire, each tied at 6-4.  Binghamton, the lone remaining team in the conference with a winning record, is seventh at 5-4, followed by 5-6 UMBC and 2-6 NJIT.
 
Sunday's America East Games

• UAlbany vs. Temple, 7:00 pm

Common Opponents

• Columbia
  • UAlbany: 11/11 at Columbia, W, 78-75
  • Temple: 11/18 vs. Columbia, L, 73-78

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 visits Drexel on December 16.