ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's basketball team is set to kick off its 2024-25 campaign with a trip to West Point to take on the Army Black Knights. Tip is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 4 and will be streamed on ESPN+ and ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team in Albany.
 
Game Info
November 4, 2024 | West Point, N.Y. | 8:00 pm
Live Stats | ESPN+ | 104.5 The Team | Game Notes
 
New Look Danes
The Great Danes have overhauled its roster for the upcoming season. Returning to UAlbany for the upcoming campaign are Third Team All-Conference honoree Amar'e Marshall joined by fellow starter and last season's leader in blocks Aaron Reddish. Aside them back at the Broadview Center are Zane Adnan, Bautista Giralt, Zach Matulu and Justin Neely. Adding on to the Great Danes depth chart this year are transfers Sully Adewale, Kheni Briggs, Byron Joshua, Kacper Klaczek, DeMarr Langford Jr., Amir Lindsey and Damon Strand. Stepping on a collegiate court for the first time in their career as freshmen will be Amir Lindsey, Ma'Kye Taylor and Kani Topuz.
 
Familiar Faces:
The Great Danes will return six players from last season with 2023 America East Third Team Honoree Amar'e Marshall, one of UAlbany's top scoring forwards from 2023-24 Aaron Reddish as well redshirt junior Justin Neely, sophomore guards Zane Adnan, and redshirt freshmen Zach Matulu and Bautista Giralt.

Aaron Reddish - Sr. | Forward | 6'7" | Norristown, Pa.
The Great Danes Big Man big in action this year, Reddish last season appeared in all 32 games for the program making 20 starts while averaging 7.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game. 

Amar'e Marshall – Rs Jr. | Guard | 6'4" | Montclair, N.J.
Coming off his America East award-winning season, Marshall returns having started in all 32 games for the Purple and Gold while averaging 16.7 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game. 

Zane Adnan - So. | Guard | 6'4" | Gaithersburg, Md.
suiting up for his second season in the Broadview Center, Adnan returns having appeared in 17 games, while averaging 0.7 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game.

Justin Neely – Rs Jr | Forward | 6'6" | Miami, Fla.
A Miami, Florida native, Neely appeared in a combined eight games total over his 2022-23, 2023-24 season due to injury and looks to return to his 2021-22 self where he was named America East Rookie of the Year and an America East All Rookie Team Selection and six-time America East Rookie of the week winner.
 
Zach Matulu – Rs Fr. | Guard | 6'4" | Albany, N.Y.
Albany native Matulu will look to make his on-court debut for the Great Danes in 2024-25 having not played in his freshman season. 

Bautista Giralt - Rs Fr | Center | 7'0" | Buenos Aires, Argentina
Having not suited up for the Great Danes his freshman year, 7'0" center Giralt returns to UAlbany looking to showcase his talents for the the Purple and Gold.

From The Portal
Sully Adewale - So. | Forward | 6'8" | East London, England | Iona
Adewale joins the Great Danes coming from Iona where he appeared in 33 games, starting 15, and playing a total of 466 minutes. He recorded a total of 98 points, averaging three points per game, and 104 total rebounds, averaging 3.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Adewale was a member of Great Britain's FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup and European Championships teams.  

Kheni Briggs – Jr. | Guard | 6'3" | Kannapolis, N.C. | Charleston Southern
Briggs comes to UAlbany following one year at Charleston Southern where he made one appearance for the Buccaneers and recorded one assists. Prior, he played for Indian Hills Community College playing 32 games, starting in 12 for a total of 21.9 minutes, totaled 343 points, 10.7 points per game, and 100 total rebounds. 

Byron Joshua – Gr. | Guard | 5'10" | New Orleans, La. | Alcorn State
Joshua transferred into the Great Danes Program from Alcorn State. There, he Appeared in 111 games while starting in 96 over four seasons. He played 3035 minutes, with 1017 points, averaging 9.2 points per game, and 358 total rebounds, averaging 3.2 rebounds per game. 

Kacper Klaczek – Sr. | Forward | 6'8" | Slaskie, Poland | Saint Jospeh's
Donning the Purple and Gold this season, Klaczek comes to UAlbany from Saint Joseph's University where he played 67 games, starting in 25 for a total of 1362 minutes played. He had a total of 334 points and an average of five points per game, and 249 rebounds, with and average 3.7 rebounds per game. Outside of his collegiate career, Klaczek has been a member of the Polish National Team and helped lead Poland to a silver medal at the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B. 

DeMarr Langford Jr. – Sr. | Guard | 6'4" | Worcester, Mass | Boston College/UCF
Joining UAlbany from the University of Central Florida of the Big XII, Langford Jr. played in 23 games for knights, starting in eight for a total of 245 minutes his junior year. Prior to UCF, Langford was a member of the BC Eagles of the ACC and there competed in 23 games, starting in15 for 647 total minutes. He had 160 points, averaging seven points per game, with 64 rebounds, and 2.8 rebounds per game. 
 
Damon Strand – Jr. | Guard | 6'3" | Plainfield, N.J. | Raritan Valley CC
Coming to the Great Danes following his time a Raritan Valley CC, Strand comes off an impressive season having been named a 2023-24 All-American and GSAC Player of the year. For his career with the Golden Lions, he appeared in 58 games, making 42 starts with 922 minutes on the court scoring 1,182 points over two years, averaging 20.4 points per game with 425 rebounds for 7.3 rebounds per game. 

Fresh Feet:
Amir Lindsey – Fr. | Guard | 5'10" | Framingham, Mass.
Out of the Rivers SchoolLindsey joins the Great Danes where in 2024 he was named a ISL MVP, Clas B MVP, All Nespac MVP along with being named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team.
 
Ma'Kye Taylor – Fr. | Forward | 6'8" | Philadelphia, Pa.
An Imhotep Institute graduate, Taylor is welcomed to UAlbany coming off a PIAA State Championship in 2024. There, he averaged 12 points per game, four assists per game, and six rebounds per game. 
 
Kani Topuz – Fr. | Guard | 6'7" | Kodikoy, Istanbul
Joining the Purple and Gold from the Renaissance Academy and Hoosac School, there Topuz played three years on varsity, having been a captain for one season and being invited to the local All-Star Game 

Last Season Recap
Earning a spot in the America East Tournament with a quarterfinal loss to Vermont, The Great Danes finished 2023-24 with a 13-19 overall record and 5-11 America East record. The team totaled 2517 points averaging per game 78.8 points, 28.7 field goals, 7.8 three pointers, 13.5 free throws, 36 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 13.3 turnovers, 8.3 steals and 3.2 blocks.
 
Meanwhile UAlbany's opponents averaged per game, 78.8 points, 28.3 field goals, 5.2 three pointers, 16.9 free throws, 36.0 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 13.0 turnovers, 7.3 steals and 4.7 blocks.
 
Looking at Army
The Black Knights are coming off a 10-22 overall season and a 6-13 Patriot League record. The Black Knights averaged per game, 60.3 points, 22.1 field goals, 7.9 three pointers, 8.3 free throws, 33.9 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 12.2 turnovers, 5.8 steals and 3.9 blocks.
 
Leading scorer Josh Scovens returns to West Point where in 2023-24 he recorded 384 points averaging 12.0 per game with 44 3pt's with 140 field goals made while also collecting 40 offensive rebounds and 172 defensive rebounds and making 36 blocks.
 
The 6'6" forward out of Greensboro, N.C. is accompanied by Ryan Curry who led the Black Knights with 90 assists, 60 3pt's in 173 attempts for a .347 three-point percentage averaging 10.2 points per game.

What the America East is Saying

Dwayne Killings looks to reach new heights in his fourth season at the helm of the Great Danes. UAlbany was picked seventh in the preseason poll but returns three starters and adds nine newcomers to its roster. Last season, the Great Danes were 13-6 when they held opponents under 80 points. UAlbany will travel to Army on November 4 to open the season, Georgetown on November 30th, and Syracuse on December 10th in their non-conference slate. 
 

A key piece that remained at UAlbany was Amar'e Marshall, a third-team all-conference selection in 2023-24. Marshall notched 16.7 points per game (PPG) on 37.2% from 3PT, 5.0 rebounds per game (RPG), and 1.8 steals per game (SPG). Aaron Reddish returns to Albany for his senior season, following a 7.6 PPG and 3.5 RPG campaign. Killings and his coaching staff added DeMarr Langford who had stints at Boston College where he averaged 7.0 PPG his freshman season and later transferred to UCF for the 2023-24 season. Kacper Klaczek (St. Joesph's), Byron Joshua (Alcorn State), and Sultan Adewale (Iona) were also added from the transfer portal.  

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.
 
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.