Score: UAlbany 63, Siena 73

Location: MVP Arena | Albany, N.Y.

Records: UAlbany (2-4, 0-0 America East), Siena (3-2, 0-0 MAAC)

Short Story: The University at Albany men's basketball team fell in the Albany Cup against Siena, 73-63. The Great Danes trailed 46-31 at halftime, pulled within four midway through the second half, and stayed within single digits until the final minutes before Siena closed it out. 

Coach Dwayne Killings: "We can be really good. We're just not ready to win that game yet, but we grew today. Jerry had his team ready. We were a little tentative early and dug ourselves a big hole. But we showed heart, came back from 15 down, cut it to four, and made it a two-possession game late. We just couldn't make the plays to get over the top and ended up losing the Albany Cup."

Key Stats:

• Amir Lindsey scored a game-high 23 points, going 7-for-8 (87.5%) from the field and 1-for-1 from three (100%), adding 8-for-10 at the line (80.0%) with four assists.
• Zacharie Matulu had 11 points on 5-for-7 (71.4%) with two rebounds.
• Okechukwu Okeke added 11 points on 5-for-8 (62.5%) with five rebounds and three blocks.
• Isaac Abidde finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
• Team totals: 24-for-45 FG (53.3%), 5-for-11 3PT (45.5%), 10-for-18 FT (55.6%). 

 How it Happened:

• Siena opened quickly and built a 17-6 lead in the first five minutes. 
• UAlbany responded with a 14-5 run that included a three from Jaden Kempson, a fadeaway from Amir Lindsey, and a deep Lindsey three at the 9:55 mark to make it 20-20.
• Siena answered with an 18-8 stretch, but a Matulu putback dunk gave UAlbany a needed boost before the Saints carried a 46-31 lead into halftime.
• Out of the break, Isaac Abidde matched a Siena three with one at the rim, and Lindsey followed with an and-one jumper to bring UAlbany back within reach.
• The Great Danes surged with a 12-5 run led by Okechukwu Okeke, who scored six points and added two blocks during the stretch to cut the deficit to 55-49 with 14:01 left.
• Abidde scored at 13:25, Lindsey converted two free throws, and Matulu threw down a powerful dunk to bring UAlbany within four.
• Both teams traded baskets and free throws as Siena pushed its lead back to 70-61.
• Isaac Abidde hit a three at 4:37 to make it 68-61, but Siena scored the next five points and the Great Danes fell short, 73-63.

UP NEXT: UAlbany's men's basketball is traveling on November 28th to Canada for the Northern Light's Classic starting off against Colgate. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM
 
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