Score: UAlbany 82, Yale 93

Location: MassMutual Center | Springfield, Mass. | MGM Springfield Basketball Hall of Fame Classic

Records: UAlbany (3-8, 0-0 America East), Yale (11-1, 0-0 Ivy League)

Short Story: UAlbany kept pace with the Bulldogs early on before falling on Wednesday night, 93-82.
 
Coach Killings: "I thought we had a really good 16-minute performance in the first half against one of the best mid-major programs in the country. We ran our offense, adjusted our defensive approach, and had the game where we wanted it until the last three or four minutes hurt us with anxious offensive possessions and some confusion on the floor, leading to them taking a 10-point lead that was tough to overcome. Our guys fought to the end, and there was no quit in our group, which shows real growth. We still must rebound better, and a few guys need to give us more. It's a really good program in a historic venue, and being part of this event was huge as now we get ready for Florida Atlantic."

Key Stats:

• Jaden Kempson and Nas Muhammad led UAlbany with 18 points each.
• Kempson shot 7–10 (70.0%) from the field and 2–3 from beyond the arc, while Muhammad went 5–12 (41.7%) overall and 5–8 (62.5%) from three.
• Amir Lindsey added 17 points and a team-high eight assists.
• Okechukwu Okeke paced the Great Danes on the glass with eight rebounds — seven defensive and one offensive.
• Yale shot 30–62 (48.4%) from the field, 7–19 (36.8%) from three, and 26–34 (76.5%) at the free-throw line.
• UAlbany shot 32–62 (51.6%) from the field and 11–23 (47.8%) from three-point range.
   

How it Happened:

• The Great Danes opened the contest with two big dunks from Okechukwu Okeke, the first an alleyoop in transition off an assist from Amir Lindsey, as UAlbany and Yale traded early baskets.
• Twelve minutes in, UAlbany became the first team to create separation, taking a 29–26 lead on a strong driving finish from Jayden Kempson.
• Kempson extended the margin two minutes later, converting another driving layup off a Bulldogs turnover to make it 31–26 Great Danes.
• Yale closed the half on a decisive 19–4 run, taking a 47–37 lead into the break.
• In the opening five minutes of the second half, both teams traded punches, with Yale edging UAlbany 12–11 behind threes from Lindsey and Muhammad to push the score to 58–49, Yale.
• Yale's Jordan Braithwaite then buried three three-pointers in four minutes, fueling a 17–7 Bulldogs run that stretched the margin to 75–56.
• UAlbany made a late push, responding with a 15–6 run sparked by two threes from Kempson and additional triples from Isaac Abidde and Nas Muhammad, trimming the deficit to 81–71 with 1:38 remaining.
• Despite the surge, the Bulldogs held on as the clock expired, securing a 93–82 victory.

UP NEXT: UAlbany returns to action Saturday, Dec. 13, as they fly to Boca Raton, Florida, to face Florida Atlantic with a noon tipoff scheduled

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