ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's basketball program continues its three-game home stand this week with visits from UMass Lowell and Bryant.
 
Game Info
January 18, 2024 vs. UMass Lowell (7:00 pm)
Live Stats | ESPN+ | 104.5 FM The Team | Game Notes | Tickets
 
January 20, 2024 vs. Bryant (7:00 pm)
Live Stats | ESPN+ | 104.5 FM The Team | Game Notes | Tickets
 
Leading the Pack

• UAlbany is 5-0 at home this season; UMass Lowell is 6-3 on the road; Bryant is 5-6 on the road
• UAlbany ranks third in the America East in scoring offense and fifth in scoring defense
• UMass Lowell ranks first in the America East in scoring offense and second in scoring defense
• Bryant ranks third in the America East in scoring offense and seventh in scoring defense
• Jonathan Beagle leads the America East in rebounding
• Amar'e Marshall leads the America East in steals
• Sebastian Thomas ranks third in the America East in scoring
• UMass Lowell's Max Brooks ranks second in the America East in blocked shots
• UMass Lowell's Ayinde Hikim ranks third in the America East in assists and fifth in steals
• Bryant's Daniel Rivera leads the America East in blocked shots
• Bryant's Sherif Gross-Bullock ranks second in the America East in scoring
• Bryant's Earl Timberlake and Rivera rank third and fifth in the America East, respectively, in rebounding
• Thursday's game is a Gold Out
• Saturday's game is this season's Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers game

Scouting UMass Lowell
The River Hawks are 12-4 this season, and 3-0 against America East opponents, are off to their second-best start in the program's Division I history, and have won each of their last five games.  Lowell has split its win total this season, claiming six wins each at home and on the road.  After finishing last season 26-8 overall and falling to Vermont in the America East title game, UMass Lowell was picked to finish second in the 2023-24 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll.  The River Hawks boast one of the best victories in the America East this season, knocking off Georgia Tech on the road, and following up two days later by nearly beating Arizona State on the road.  Through 16 games, Lowell is the America East's top team in scoring offense, and second-best in scoring defense.  The River Hawks are led by Ayinde Hikim, who averages 15.5 points per game, but can call upon a total of seven players averaging 9.5 points per game or more.  UAlbany is 18-13 lifetime against UMass Lowell. 
 
Last Time vs. UMass Lowell
February 1, 2023 | In the teams' second meeting of the season, UMass Lowell quickly built a 13-5 lead within the first five minutes, shooting 50% from the floor to start the game.  Two minutes later, the River Hawks led by 10, and by halftime led 39-16.  UAlbany bounced back a bit to outscore UMass Lowell by seven in the second half, but fell by a final score of 66-50.  Gerald Drumgoole Jr. led UAlbany with 18 points, but UMass Lowell kept UAlbany's second-chance opportunities to a minimum, outrebounding the Great Danes 44-29.
 
Common Opponents

• UMass
  • UAlbany: 11/7 at UMass, L, 71-92
  • UMass Lowell: 12/9 at UMass, L, 88-91
• Boston University
  • UAlbany: 11/29 vs. Boston U., W, 86-72
  • UMass Lowell: 12/22 at Boston U., W, 71-63
• Dartmouth
  • UAlbany: 12/2 vs. Dartmouth, W, 73-68
  • UMass Lowell: 11/10 at Dartmouth, W, 81-48
• LIU
  • UAlbany: 12/28 at LIU, W, 86-69
  • UMass Lowell: 12/12 vs. LIU, W, 78-65
• NJIT
  • UAlbany: 1/6 at NJIT, W, 79-73
  • UMass Lowell: 1/11 vs. NJIT, W, 70-62

Thursday's America East Games

• Vermont at Binghamton, 6:00 pm
• Maine at UMBC, 7:00 pm
• New Hampshire at NJIT, 7:00 pm
• UMass Lowell at UAlbany, 7:00 pm

Scouting Bryant
The Bulldogs are 11-7 and in third place overall in the America East standings.  Bryant is one of four unbeaten teams remaining in the league, and one of three at 3-0 against league opponents.  The Bulldogs boast the best individual victory of any America East team this season, upsetting then-#10 Florida Atlantic on the road 61-52 on November 18, but have otherwise been hot-and-cold through the season.  Six of Bryant's seven losses have come in road games.  Bryant has eclipsed 100 points in four games this season, most recently on December 22 against Drexel.  An America East quarterfinalist last season, Bryant was picked to finish third in the 2023-24 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll in their second year as a member institution.  The Bulldogs are led by Sherif Gross-Bullock, the second-leading scorer in the America East, averaging 19.5 points per game.  UAlbany is 3-2 in five meetings against the Bulldogs since the 2008-09 season.
 
Last Time vs. Bryant
February 8, 2023 | Bryant opened their second game of the season against UAlbany on a 12-0 run, and after seeing the Great Danes close within nine, extended their lead to 19 with 7:32 left in the first half.  By halftime, Bryant led 51-27.  The second half started with Bryant making an 8-4 run.  The Bulldogs led by 25 mid-way through the second, and went on to win 87-62.  Gerald Drumgoole Jr. led UAlbany with 16 points, and added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  Japannah Kellogg scored a career-high 15 points on 7-11 shooting.
 
Common Opponents

• Siena
  • UAlbany: 11/26 at Siena, W, 86-51
  • Bryant: 12/6 at Siena, W, 67-51
• Boston University
  • UAlbany: 11/29 vs. Boston U., W, 86-72
  • Bryant: 11/16 at Boston U., L, 79-95
• Drexel
  • UAlbany: 12/16 at Drexel, L, 52-71
  • Bryant: 12/22 vs. Drexel, W, 104-86
• Binghamton
  • UAlbany: 1/13 vs. Binghamton, W, 95-75
  • Bryant: 1/11 vs. Binghamton, W, 77-69 

Saturday's America East Games

• New Hampshire at UMBC, 1:00 pm
• UMass Lowell at Binghamton, 2:00 pm
• Maine at NJIT, 2:00 pm
• Bryant at UAlbany, 7:00 pm 

Last Time Out
UAlbany won its fifth-straight game to open Broadview Center, defeating Binghamton 95-75 to improve to 2-0 in America East play.  Sebastian Thomas led all scorers with 30 points, on 12-21 shooting, and added seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals.  With Jonathan Beagle in foul trouble, Muneer Newton came off the bench and recorded his first double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds in 20 minutes.  Marcus Jackson shot 6-8, including 3-4 from three, and scored 15 points.  The Bearcats' Symir Torrence, who entered the game ranked fourth in the NCAA in assists per game, just missed a triple double, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
 
Around the America East
Four teams in the America East, including UAlbany remain unbeaten in league play after two weekends.  UMass Lowell, Vermont, and Bryant are 3-0, and the Great Danes are 2-0.  All four teams have reached 10 wins or more on the season, led by the Catamounts' 13.  No other team in the America East boasts a winning conference record.  New Hampshire is currently fifth at 1-2, followed by four winless teams, Binghamton, Maine, UMBC, and NJIT.
 
Player of the Week III
Sebastian Thomas became the third Great Dane this season to earn America East Player of the Week accolades, doing so after scoring 30 points and recording seven assists in a 20-point victory over Binghamton.  Thomas shot 12-21 from the floor and surrendered just one turnover in 36 minutes of play against the Bearcats.
 
Moving on Up
With its ninth with of the season on January 6, a six-point victory at NJIT to open America East play, UAlbany surpassed their win total from the 2022-23 season in just its 16th game.  The Great Danes eclipsed last year's win total thanks in part to a five-game winning streak in the middle of non-conference play, the longest since winning six-straight during the 2017-18 season.
 
Player of the Week II
Jonathan Beagle recorded his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and recording 12 rebounds in a come-from-behind victory at LIU at the Barclays Center.  Beagle's performance garnered America East Player of the Week honors, the first of his career.  Last season as a freshman, Beagle set a record with nine America East Rookie of the Week accolades.
 
Double Trouble II
For the second time in three games, UAlbany saw two players record a double-double in the same game.  Against LIU, at the Barclays Center, Jonathan Beagle scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.  Amar'e Marshall scored 12 and added 10 boards, his first double-double as a Great Dane.  Marshall is the fourth player this season to record a double-double, behind Beagle, Sebastian Thomas, and Marcus Jackson.
 
Slamming the Door
Trailing 68-61 with 7:22 remaining against LIU at the Barclays Center, UAlbany ended the game on a 25-1 scoring run to win by 17 points, 86-69.  Aaron Reddish hit a three to start the comeback.  Sebastian Thomas, who scored a game-high 32 points, hit a jumper in the paint with 5:36 to go to give UAlbany a one-point lead that they would never relinquish.  LIU scored its only point in the final 7:22 with 1:54 to go, a free throw, after UAlbany had scored 21-straight.
 
Double Trouble
In UAlbany's final home game of 2023, and before a four-game road swing to close out the nonconference schedule, the Great Danes dispatched NEC rival Sacred Heart by 14 points, 93-79, bouncing back after stumbling at Drexel 71-52.  Against the Pioneers, UAlbany saw four players score in double figures, while two, Jonathan Beagle and Marcus Jackson, recorded personal double-double.  Beagle, who recorded his fourth of the season, scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading UAlbany in both categories, while Jackson, recording his first career double-double, scored 15 points to go with 10 rebounds.
 
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 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 Maine on January 25.