Score: UAlbany 68, Fordham 88
 
Location: Place Bell | Laval, Quebec, Canada
 
Records: UAlbany (2-6, 0-0 America East), Fordham (6-2, 0-0 A-10)

Short Story: The University at Albany men's basketball team opened its Northern Classic slate with an 88-68 setback to Fordham. 

Head Coach Dwayne Killings: "We didn't compete the way we needed to tonight. When shots weren't falling, we didn't show the grit and toughness we've had against Siena and Colgate, and that's not acceptable. The team is having a players-only meeting because we need stronger leadership and more player-led accountability. We're going to make changes to get this going in the direction we want." 

Key Stats:

• Isaac Abidde led UAlbany with 15 points on 6-for-10 from the field and 2-for-5 from three, adding one steal.
• Jaden Kempson matched him with 15 points, finishing 5-for-13 from the floor and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc with three assists.
• Nas Muhammad added 14 points with two made threes, five rebounds and three assists.
• Zacharie Matulu recorded a near double-double with eight points and a team high ten rebounds, plus four assists and two steals.
• Yaya Keita provided eight points off the bench on 2-for-3 from the field and 4-for-5 at the line with two rebounds and two assists.

How it Happened:

• Fordham opened the night with a quick burst from the perimeter to go up 10-5 before UAlbany settled in behind Isaac Abidde. The forward knocked down an early three and followed with multiple drives to the rim, scoring eight of the Great Danes' first twelve points to keep it 18-12 at the twelve minute mark.
• Nas Muhammad provided a lift off the bench with a three and a floater, pulling UAlbany within 20-15, and a second chance finish from Matulu trimmed the margin again.
• A three from Muhammad as well as one from Abidde kept the Danes close late in the half, making it 37-31.
• Fordham scored the final basket before the break, and UAlbany went to the locker room trailing 42-33.
• The Rams opened the second half on a strong run to stretch the lead to 60-35, but the Great Danes answered.
• Yaya Keita converted a pair of free throws and a hook shot inside, then Matulu scored at the rim to cap a 6-0 response that cut it to 60-41 with fourteen minutes left.
• Muhammad and Matulu continued to attack, combining on a transition sequence that led to another layup and kept the deficit under twenty.
• Shortly after, Kempson drilled a step back three and Muhammad followed with a three of his own from the left side, bringing UAlbany within 69-55 with just over nine minutes to play.
• Keita sparked another push with a layup through contact, and Matulu finished a fast break dunk to make it 76-63 at the five minute mark.
• UAlbany forced several late turnovers and got to the rim multiple times down the stretch, but Fordham extended possessions with free throws and second chance baskets.
• Okechukwu Okeke scored on a putback in the final seconds for the last UAlbany field goal of the night as the Rams closed out the 88-68 result.

UP NEXT: UAlbany men's basketball finishes up its trip to Canada tomorrow afternoon against Oneonta. Tip off is set for 1 pm.
 
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