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UALBANY WINS SECOND-STRAIGHT AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP OVER VERMONT, 60-59

     Burlington, Vt. - Jamar Wilson scored 22 points and Jason Siggers added 14 in leading UAlbany to a 60-59 victory over Vermont for its second consecutive America East Conference championship on Saturday afternoon before a capacity crowd of 3,266 fans at Patrick Gymnasium.
     The Great Danes, who won for the first time in 10 trips to Burlington since 1925, earned a second straight NCAA berth. UAlbany (23-9) became just the second No. 2 seed in conference history to beat a top seed on their home floor in the championship final.
     In a game that featured 13 lead changes and five ties, Vermont (25-7) took a 54-53 lead on Keith Cieplicki's 15-foot jumper. UAlbany's Brian Lillis put his team ahead with a 3-pointer, before UVM's Mike Trimboli hit a pair of free throws to draw his team even at 56 apiece.
     Jamar Wilson, the championship's most outstanding player who had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists, then made back-to-back baskets. His spinning one-hander in the lane gave his team a 60-56 lead. After Cieplicki's steal and basket off a goaltending call sliced the lead to one, Vermont played for the last shot with 32 seconds left. But Trimboli dribbled the ball off Carl Ross' foot and Brent Wilson came up with the loose ball and ran out the clock.
     "We knew we had to rebound to have a chance to win," said Brent Wilson. "Five guys went to the glass throughout the game. When I came up with the ball (at the end), I took two dribbles, saw there was two seconds on the clock, and threw the ball up the floor."
     The Catamounts, who won the America East regular-season title, and had their 13-game winning streak halted, were led by Trimboli and Marqus Blakely, who had 10 points apiece. Martin Klimes and Cieplicki each scored nine. UAlbany's Brent Wilson finished with six points, all in second half, and grabbed nine rebounds.
     "We defended well in this tournament," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. "We convinced ourselves that we are a grind it out team. The odds were against us. Vermont doesn't lose in this gym; they have both talent and passionate fans. We knew at the end that they were going to keep the ball. We needed to get a stop to win the game."
     UAlbany led 27-22 at halftime in an opening period where defense was emphasized. Both teams shot less than 40 percent from the field and each endured a span of six-plus minutes without scoring. Vermont built an 18-13 lead during one of those stretches, as Marqus Blakely delivered a slam dunk in transition. The Great Danes answered with 10 straight. Jon Iati's three-point field goal ended that run.
     "It's the best feeling I've had," said America East player of the year Jamar Wilson. "You never want to be a one-hit wonder. You want a chance to do it again, and we did. We played good defense, executed the game plan, and did a good job of rebounding against a team that has two of the better rebounders in the conference."

UALBANY DEFEATS BOSTON U., 59-49, TO ADVANCE TO THE AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

     Boston, Mass. - Jamar Wilson scored 14 points and Jason Siggers added 13 as UAlbany posted a 59-49 victory over Boston University in the America East Conference Tournament's semifinal round on Sunday, March 4 at Agganis Arena. The Great Danes will travel to top-seeded Vermont for the championship on Saturday, March 10 at 12 noon. The Catamounts defeated UMBC, 72-63, in the other semifinal.
     The Great Danes, who trailed at the intermission, held Boston U. (12-18) to one field goal through the opening nine-plus minutes of the final stanza. Meanwhile, UAlbany (22-9) opened up a 38-28 lead. Brent Wilson and Jon Iati hit consecutive 3-point field goals to ignite that stretch offensively.
     The Terriers would slice that advantage in half when freshman Corey Lowe drilled a 23-foot jumper from the right side. UAlbany regrouped with seven straight points to seize control. Brent Wilson made another 3-pointer before Brian Connellly converted an offensive rebound. Jamar Wilson, who added nine rebounds, four assists and three steals, made a pair of free throws for a 47-35 margin with 6:35 to play. The lead swelled to as much as 15 points in the final three minutes.
     "We defended throughout the game," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, whose team has the most wins since the 1993-94 campaign. "The difference in the second half was our offense. We played Brent Wilson and Brian Connelly together, got away from isolation, and did a better job of running our sets. Boston U. was very disrupted on defense over the last eight minutes of the first half."
     Freshman guard Tyler Morris had 12 points for the Terriers, who were held to 32.7-percent shooting. Scott Brittain, a 6'9" freshman, added nine points and nine rebounds. Brian Lillis totaled nine points and six rebounds for the Great Danes, who are making their second consecutive championship appearance. Carl Ross added a career-high seven points off the bench.
     Boston U. overcame a nine-point deficit in the opening period to take a 26-25 lead at halftime. UAlbany led 22-14 when Jamar Wilson hit a bank shot in the lane. The Terriers' Tyler Morris would bury a three-point field to close the gap to a single basket. The Great Danes then pushed out to a 25-20 lead when Wilson converted off the glass. However, BU scored the final six points of the half, including a follow shot by Brian Macon that beat the buzzer.

     "We were not playing like ourselves (in the first half)," offered Jamar Wilson, who had 21 points in the previous night's quarterfinal win. "If it was not for points off turnovers, we would have been down more. We moved the ball around well and made plays down the stretch. We knew we couldn't let them determine what we are doing."

UALBANY MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS NEW HAMPSHIRE IN A-EAST TOURNAMENT ACTION

     Boston, Mass. - Jamar Wilson scored 21 points and Brent Wilson added 13 in leading UAlbany to a 64-47 victory over New Hampshire in the America East Conference Tournament's quarterfinal round on Saturday evening at Boston University's Agganis Arena. The Great Danes, who are the No. 2 seed, advanced to the semifinals on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
     UAlbany (21-9) built a 44-26 lead with 16:48 remaining on a three-point field goal by Wilson, who added six rebounds and five assists. New Hampshire (10-20) responded with 16 of the game's next 21 points. Senior guard Jermaine Anderson, who scored a team-high 15, keyed that run. Radar Onguetou would drain a three-pointer that cut the deficit to 49-42 with 9:01 to play.
     The Great Danes, who held UNH to 39-percent shooting, then pushed the lead back to double figures with five straight. Brian Connelly, who had 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench, sank two free throws and converted an offensive rebound for a 54-42 advantage.
     UNH's Onguetou finished with 11 points for the Wildcats, who were also eliminated by UAlbany one year ago in the semifinal round. Blagoj Janev had 10 points, all in the second half. Brent Wilson, who received three stitches above his left eye after the game, made 5-of-9 from the field and grabbed four rebounds for the Great Danes, who tied the program's Division I record for single-season wins.
     "We did a good job of moving the ball," said Jamar Wilson, who scored 20 or more points for the 47th time. "We passed up good shots for great shots. They started hitting their shots (in the second half). We got some stops and were able to close out the game."
     The Great Danes, who shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half, used a pair of eight-point runs to build a 31-15 lead. Jamar Wilson hit a basket and two free throws in the first streak. Jon Iati converted in transition following a goaltending call. Brent Wilson and Jamar Wilson each drilled a three-point field goal in the second outburst. Carl Ross later finished off a fastbreak with a slam dunk, before his team settled for a 36-21 halftime cushion.
     "We defended well and popped the ball offensively at the start," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. "Our bench contributed in a variety of ways. We hit a six to eight-minute lull in the second when they made their run. But it's win and move on this time of year."

UALBANY'S JAMAR WILSON NAMED 2007 AMERICA EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR

     Boston, Mass. - University at Albany's Jamar Wilson has been chosen the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year in men's basketball as announced on Friday, March 2 at the conference's annual awards brunch, held at Fenway Park's State Street Pavilion. Wilson and Jason Siggers were selected first-team all-conference, while Brent Wilson made the third team in voting by the league's head coaches. Brian Lillis was named the America East Defensive Player of the Year.
     Wilson, who earned All-America East honors for the fourth time, including a pair of first-team selections, is the fourth player in conference history to win consecutive player of the year awards. He joins Northeastern's Reggie Lewis, Vermont's Taylor Coppenrath and Drexel's Malik Rose in that group.
     A native of Bronx, N.Y., Wilson ranks first in scoring (18.6 pg), second in assists (4.9 pg) and fifth in rebounding (6.2 pg) among the conference leaders. He is the school's all-time scorer with 2,082 points, plus ranks seventh among the America East career leaders. Wilson, a 6-foot-1 senior, became the first player in the program's history to score 500 or more points in three different seasons. He was recently named to the NABC All-District 2 first team.
     Siggers, a 6'4" senior from Dallas, Texas, ranks eighth among the conference leaders in scoring at 14.2 points per game. He is also third in free throw percentage (.829). Siggers, who has scored in double figures in 15 of his last 17 games, averages 4.0 rebounds, plus has made 43-of-128 three-point field goals.
     Wilson, a 6'8" junior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, makes his second straight appearance on the All-America East third team. He contributes 11.2 points and 5.0 rebounds, plus leads the team in 3-point field goals made (62). He scored in double figures 16 times, including a career-high 29 against Sacred Heart.
     A 6-foot-5 junior from Urbandale, Iowa, Lillis has been an all-around performer throughout his career. He averages 7.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals. He was one of the reasons the Great Danes allowed 62.0 points per game against conference opponents. Lillis was also a member of the five-player America East All-Academic Team. He has a 3.11 cumulative grade point average as a business administration major.
     UAlbany (20-9) is the second seed in this weekend's conference postseason tournament. The Great Danes recorded back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time in 17 years and tied a program record for most America East victories with 13.
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2007 America East Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team - Chris Holm (Vermont), Jason Siggers (Albany), Bo Taylor (Hartford), Mike Trimboli (Vermont), Jamar Wilson (Albany).
Second Team - Mike Gordon (Binghamton), Brian Hodges (UMBC), Blagoj Janev (New Hampshire), Tyler Morris (Boston U.), Kevin Reed (Maine).
Third Team - Jermaine Anderson (New Hampshire), Martin Klimes (Vermont), Ricky Lucas (Stony Brook), Omari Peterkin (Boston U.), Brent Wilson (Albany).
All-Defensive - Jermaine Anderson (New Hampshire), Mike Gordon (Binghamton), Martin Klimes (Vermont), Brian Lillis (Albany), Chris Pugh (UMBC).
All-Rookie - Corey Lowe (Boston U.), Tyler Morris (Boston U.), Joe Trapani (Vermont), Lazar Trifunovic (Binghamton), Joe Zeglinski (Hartford).
All-Academic - Brian Hodges (UMBC), Martin Klimes (Vermont), Brian Lillis (Albany), Ricky Lucas (Stony Brook), Tyler Morris (Boston U.).

Player of the Year: Jamar Wilson (Albany)
Rookie of the Year: Tyler Morris (Boston U.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Brian Lillis (Albany)
Coach of the Year: Mike Lonergan (Vermont)

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY’S JAMAR WILSON NAMED TO NABC ALL-DISTRICT 2 FIRST TEAM

     Kansas City, Mo. – University at Albany’s Jamar Wilson has been chosen to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 2 squad.  Wilson, a 6-foot-1 senior, was named to the first team.

     Wilson ranks first in scoring (18.6 ppg), second in assists (4.9 pg) and fifth in rebounding (6.2 pg) among the America East Conference leaders.  He has scored 20 or more points on 12 occasions this season, including a 29-point effort in last Sunday’s regular-season finale with Boston University.

     A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Wilson became the first player in school history to score 500 or more points in three different seasons last week, and currently has the fourth-best single-season total with 538.  He is the school’s all-time leader with 2,082 points, plus ranks seventh among the conference’s career scorers.

     Wilson was named to the NABC All-District 2 second team as a junior, when he led the Great Danes to an America East championship and a first-ever NCAA appearance.  

BASKETBALL'S JAMAR WILSON NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Boston, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jamar Wilson has been selected the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s basketball, as announced by the conference office on Monday, Feb. 26. Wilson has won the weekly award four times this season and on eight occasions overall.

     Wilson averaged 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in a pair of league victories over Stony Brook (66-46) and Boston University (73-63).  He shot 50 percent from the field, including 7-of-10 from three-point range, and 84.6 percent from the line.

     The 6-foot-1 senior tallied 19 of his 29 points in the second half as his team rallied against Boston U, plus had six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Wilson scored 20-plus points for the 46th time in his career.  He also had 19 points, six assists and four rebounds at Stony Brook on his 23rd birthday. Wilson became the first player in school history to score 500 or more points in three different seasons, and currently has the fourth-best single-season total with 538.

     A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Wilson ranks first in scoring (18.6 ppg), second in assists (4.9 pg) and fifth in rebounding (6.2 pg) among the America East leaders.

AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD ANNOUNCED

     Boston , Mass. -- The nine-team field for the 2007 America East Men's Basketball Championship is set. The conference's premier event takes place at Boston University 's Agganis Arena on March 2-4, with the title game to be played on March 10 at the higher remaining seed.

     The league tournament gets underway on Friday, March 2 as No. 9 Stony Brook and No. 8 Hartford square off at 7 p.m. The winner of that first-round affair will then take on top-seeded Vermont on Saturday, March 3 at 12 noon in the first of four quarterfinal contests.

      The day's second quarterfinal pits No. 5 UMBC versus No. 4 Maine, while No. 7 New Hampshire and No. 2 UAlbany meet in the night's first quarterfinal affair followed by No. 6 Binghamton versus No. 3 Boston University.  UAlbany (20-9, AE 13-3) finished second in the conference standings after recording their second consecutive 20-win campaign for the first time in 17 years.  The Great Danes, who have won 10 of their last 12 outings, ended the regular season with a 73-63 victory over Boston University .

      The semifinals take place on Sunday, March 4 at 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on Time Warner Cable in Albany . The title game will then be held on the campus of the higher remaining seed on March 10 at 12 noon and can be seen live on ESPN2.

      With the field now set, single-session tickets are scheduled to go on sale Monday, February 26 at 10 a.m. Adult first-round tickets are $20/each with youth/student prices set at $10. Adult quarter- and semifinal tickets are $25/each with youth/student prices set at $15. Tickets can be purchased online through www.AmericaEast.com, by calling TicketMaster at 617-931-2000 or in-person at the Agganis Arena Ticket Office.

      For more information on America East Men's Basketball, log on to the conference's official website www.AmericaEast.com.

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2007 America East Men's Basketball Championship at Agganis Arena ( Boston , Mass. )

Friday, March 2: First Round

#8 Hartford vs. #9 Stony Brook, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 3: Quarterfinals

#8/9 vs. #1 Vermont , 12 noon

#5 UMBC vs. #4 Maine , 2:30 p.m.

#7 New Hampshire vs. #2 Albany , 6 p.m.

#6 Binghamton vs. #3 Boston University , 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 4: Semifinals

12 noon/2:30 p.m. (AETV: TW3)

Saturday, Ma rch 10: Title Game

at higher remaining seed, 12 noon (ESPN2)

JAMAR WILSON LEADS UALBANY TO 20TH WIN OF THE SEASON IN 73-63 A-EAST VICTORY

     Albany, N.Y. – Jamar Wilson had 19 of his 29 points in the second half as UAlbany ended the regular season with a 73-63 America East Conference victory over Boston University on Sunday, Feb. 25 before 3,026 fans at SEFCU Arena.

     Boston U. (11-17, AE 8-8) trailed 46-36 with 16:50 remaining, but wiped out that deficit with 11 unanswered.  Freshman guard Tyler Morris had eight of his 18 points in that span, including a turnaround on the right baseline that put his team ahead.  The Terriers, who dropped a two-point decision in the first meeting of the season between these clubs, moved out to a 52-48 margin when Carlos Strong drained a three-point field goal from the right wing.

     UAlbany (20-9, AE 13-3) regrouped with nine consecutive points in taking the lead back.  Wilson connected on one of his four 3-pointers, before coming up with a steal and finding Jon Iati for another three-point field goal that put their team ahead.  Iati, a 5’9” junior who had 12 points off the bench, then sank another long-range jumper from the left corner for a 57-52 advantage.

     The Great Danes, who reached the 20-win mark in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 17 years, still led 61-55 with 6:55 to play.  But UAlbany pulled away with nine of the game’s next 10 points.  Iati made his fourth 3-pointer from the top of arc to ignite that run.  Jason Siggers, who had 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, later hit a slam dunk off Brian Lillis’ outlet pass, and Wilson converted a left-handed drive in the lane for a 70-56 cushion.

     “I know we wanted to go out with a bang,” said Siggers, whose team won 20 games in the regular season for the first time since upgrading to the NCAA Division I level in 1999-2000.  “We had some things we wanted to accomplish as seniors.  We are a confident team and have some momentum going into the conference tournament.”

     Corey Lowe, one of three freshman starters in the Terrier lineup, was the only other player in double figures with 14 points.  Scott Brittain, a 6’9” forward, added nine points and eight rebounds.  Wilson, who was one of three UAlbany seniors honored in a pre-game ceremony, made 9-of-17 from the field and added six rebounds and three assists.  The 6-foot-1 guard scored 20-plus points for the 46th time in his career in what was likely his last home appearance. 

     “It’s nice that people appreciate what you have done, I had a million of emotions racing through me,” explained Wilson about the ceremony prior to the game.  “But the best thing is getting the win.  We have to make the best of what we have each time out (as seniors).  As the coaches have been saying to us, we have to impose our will on the opponent.”

     In the first half, UAlbany pushed out to a 32-24 lead with 2:08 left before halftime as Wilson made a pair of free throws.  But Morris, who made 6-of-13 from the floor, connected on consecutive three-pointers to close the gap to a single basket.  Siggers would give the Great Danes a 36-32 halftime lead when he beat the buzzer on a turnaround from left of the lane.

UALBANY POSTS NINTH ROAD WIN OVER AMERICA EAST RIVAL STONY BROOK, 66-46

     Stony Brook, N.Y. - Jamar Wilson scored 19 points and Jason Siggers added 15 in leading UAlbany to a 66-46 America East Conference victory over Stony Brook on Thursday evening at SBU Arena. The Great Danes, who set the program's Division I record with its ninth road win of the season, improved to 19-9 overall and 12-3 in the conference. Stony Brook fell to 9-18 and 4-11.
     The Great Danes, who have won four straight in this series, moved out to a 48-22 lead early in the final when Jon Iati drilled a 3-pointer. UAlbany was never really threatened from that point forward as they held the Seawolves to 36.2-percent shooting, including 1-of-9 from the three-point arc.
     UAlbany led 37-17 at halftime, its second largest lead at the break this season, by shooting 52 percent. The Great Danes leaped to a 15-4 lead in the opening five-plus minutes. Jamar Wilson had eight points in that stretch. Jason Siggers, who had 10 first-half points, later buried a three-point field goal for a 24-10 advantage. Brian Lillis' rainbow 3-pointer pushed the margin to 20 points.
     "It was a good way to get back on track and at same time gain some momentum," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. "I thought we played solid defense the last eight minutes of the first half. We used a little zone to give them something different to look at. We are learning as we go with that defense."
     Mitchell Beauford led SBU with 20 points and was the lone player in double figures. UAlbany's Brian Lillis added 11 points and seven rebounds, and has scored in twin figures in five of his last eight starts. Wilson, who along with Siggers and David Bauman will be honored this Sunday in a senior ceremony at SEFCU Arena, made 6-of-13 from the field with six assists and four rebounds.
     "We hit open shots and did a good job of finding the open people," said Jamar Wilson. "We showed them some things on defense that we haven't done in the past. We wanted their younger players to try and beat us. I just want to make the best of every game as I get closer to not wearing a college uniform again."

UALBANY WINS FOR THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT TIME IN 61-55 ROAD VICTORY AT HARTFORD

     West Hartford, Conn. -- Jason Siggers scored 18 points as UAlbany slowly pulled away in the second half for a 61-55 America East Conference victory over Hartford on Monday, Feb. 5 at Chase Arena. The Great Danes won for the seventh straight time, the second longest streak in the program's Division I history.
     UAlbany (17-7, AE 10-2) led 42-40 with 5:06 remaining, but then ran off eight unanswered. Jimmie Covington started the outburst with a steal and two free throws. Brian Lillis, who had all 10 of his points in the final half, came up with another theft that led to two foul shots and added a driving layup from the top of the key. Brian Connelly stole another pass and later fed Siggers for a 50-40 advantage.
     "Brian Connelly and I know we have to create energy as defensive stoppers," said Lillis. "We knew we had to play defense and execute on offense. We had to find a way to take control (of the game) and make it happen. You get it in trouble when you wait for it to happen."
     Hartford (9-15, AE 3-8) would make the game a foul-shooting contest over the last one minute and thirty seconds. The Hawks, who have now lost eight in a row and had a short bench due to a conference suspension, got as close as 58-53 in the stretch on a layup by freshman Joe Zeglinski, who had 14 points. The Great Danes stayed ahead by scoring their final 11 points from the charity stripe.
     "It was not a work of art. Hartford deserves all the credit," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. "They worked the clock down and lulled us to sleep. But our team responds with its back against the wall. We think we will win close games."
     UAlbany took an 18-12 lead midway through the opening period when Jon Iati buried a three-point field from the top of the arc. The Great Danes still led 24-19 with 4:40 left in the period, but then went scoreless the rest of the way. The Hawks, who employed a ball-control offense that worked the shot clock, closed the gap by halftime. Bo Taylor, a 6-foot-5 senior, netted 11 first-half points, including a basket with 37 seconds left.
     Brent Wilson was the third UAlbany player in double figures with 10 points. The Great Danes, who have won nine of their last 10 games, posted the team's seventh road win of the season. Taylor had 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting for the Hawks, who went 0-for-11 from the three-point arc to end a string of 461 consecutive games in which they had made at least one long-range shot.

MEN'S BASKETBALL HOLDS OFF BINGHAMTON , 65-62, FOR SIXTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY

     Albany, N.Y. – Jamar Wilson scored 16 points to pace four players in double figures as UAlbany held off Binghamton, 65-62, in America East Conference play for its sixth straight win on Saturday, Feb. 3 before a capacity crowd of 4,538 at SEFCU Arena.

     Binghamton (10-13, AE 3-8) took a 44-39 lead with seven consecutive points midway through the final period.  Lazar Trifunovic, a 6-foot-8 freshman who had 15 of his 22 points after halftime, hit a jump hook off the dribble and a bank shot in the lane to ignite the run.  Steve Proctor, who had 12 points, later converted a layup after Troy Hailey’s steal to complete that stretch.

     UAlbany (16-7, AE 9-2) responded with 12 of the game’s next 14 points to go ahead for good.  Jon Iati, who scored 14 off the bench, drew his team even at 46 apiece on a three-point field goal from the right corner.  Brent Wilson finished off a fastbreak following a steal before Jamar Wilson buried a three-pointer from the top of the arc for a 51-46 advantage with 8:12 remaining.

     The Great Danes, who dropped the first meeting of the season between these teams on Jan. 6, led by as much as six on three occasions over the next six minutes, but could never shake the visitors.  Trifunovic, who made 8-of-17 from the field and added six rebounds and five assists, hit a jump hook on the right baseline to close the gap to 63-61 with 47 seconds left.  After Brian Connelly connected in the lane from a driving Jason Siggers, Binghamton ’s Mike Gordon split a pair of free throws.  The Bearcats would get an opportunity to tie the contest on their last possession, but Gordon’s long-range jumper was off the mark with four seconds to play.

     “We survived,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team was playing before the second home sellout of the season on Big Purple Growl, the university’s winter homecoming.  “It was a tremendous environment and they (the fans) were our sixth man.  Binghamton has as much talent as anyone in this league and they give us fits.  Trifunovic made some tough shots.  We wanted him to beat us one-on-one and stay home on their three-point shooters.”

     In the opening half, UAlbany erased a 15-9 deficit with a run of 13 unanswered.  Iati, who had 11 points in the period, made two of his four 3-pointers in that stretch, plus converted a drive from the left wing.  The Great Danes, who shot 50 percent from the floor before the break, took a 31-26 lead to the locker room.

     Brent Wilson finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Great Danes, who have won 15 of their last 16 at home.  Jason Siggers, who has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 outings, was the fourth UAlbany player in twin figures with 11.  Gordon, who was making his 66th consecutive start, totaled 15 points, five assists and three steals.

     “These teams know each other well,” Brent Wilson offered.  “You know it’s going to be a battle every time.  It was a game of runs and we just had to hang with it and play defense.  Trifunovic is an active four-man who is good off the bounce and tough to double.  He is going to be a good player in this conference.”

MEN'S BASKETBALL WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT IN 82-58 AMERICA EAST TRIUMPH OVER UMBC

     Albany, N.Y. – Jamar Wilson had 16 of his 18 points in the opening half and UAlbany shot 54.5 percent from the field in an 82-58 America East Conference victory over UMBC on Wednesday, Jan. 31 before 3,211 fans at SEFCU Arena.  The Great Danes, who improved to 15-7 overall and 8-2 in the conference, have won five straight and seven of their last eight.

     UAlbany rolled to a 29-9 lead in the opening ten minutes by making 11 of its first 14 attempts from the floor.  Brian Lillis, who had all eight of his points in the first half, ignited a run of eight unanswered with a reverse layup on the left baseline and a jump hook in the lane.  The Great Danes added another outburst of 12 straight points.  Jason Siggers had eight of his 14 points in that span, including two of his three 3-pointers.  Jon Iati’s long-range jumper from the right wing gave his team a 20-point margin.

     The Great Danes, who blistered the nets at 63.3 percent in the period, moved out to a 32-point advantage on a pair of free throws by Wilson, who made 7-of-13 from the field and added eight assists and seven rebounds.  UAlbany settled for a 52-25 lead at the intermission and recorded its most points in a half this season.

     UMBC (9-14, AE 5-5) was coming off a pair of last-second conference wins in its previous two outings, but the Retrievers were never in this contest.  Brian Hodges, the team’s top scorer, was held to 11 points on 3-of-16 from the field.  His team was held to 37.3-percent shooting overall.  Justin Fry and Chris Pugh each scored 10.

      “We played solid defense in two close away wins last week and that has helped our confidence,” said Jamar Wilson, the reigning America East player of the year who played with a sprained knee suffered in practice the day before.  “Our defense has helped make it easier on our offense.  We are a motivated team right now.  We want to make sure we take care of business.”

      Brent Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior, was the third UAlbany player in double figures with 14 points. Wilson was one of 12 players who reaching the scoring column, as his team posted its biggest win margin since Dec. 6, 2004.  The Great Danes, who won for the sixth straight time in the series, took the first meeting of the year, 65-61, earlier this month.

      “That may be the best twenty minutes we have played since I have been here,” offered Brent Wilson, who scored in twin figures for the 12th time this season.  “The coaches have been preaching defense and we played well on that end of the floor.  In the second half, we were trying to maintain the lead and then get some guys in there who deserve some playing time.”

UALBANY PICKED FOR BRACKETBUSTERS NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAME ON FRIDAY, FEB. 16

     Boston, Mass. -- For the second-consecutive year, the University at Albany men's basketball team has been selected to play a nationally-televised game in the fifth annual O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters. The Great Danes will travel to Boise, Idaho to face Western Athletic Conference opponent Boise State University. The game will be aired live on an ESPN network (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or ESPN 360) on Friday, February 16 with game time and programming information to be determined.

     Six of the 14 O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters games will be televised on ESPN2. Five other televised contests will be featured on ESPNU and three games on ESPN 360 - ESPN's broadband network.

     "We are excited and proud to once again be included in the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters," said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. "Albany has done a great job representing the America East Conference the past two years on the national scene and we are confident that they will do so again."

     "We are proud to represent the America East Conference in the BracketBusters event," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, whose squad will play its first-ever opponent from the Gem State. "It's a great opportunity to cast a spotlight on our University, athletic department and basketball program by playing a nationally televised game. The national exposure will help our recruiting efforts and the event will prepare us for the America East Conference tournament."

     The 2007 O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters will take place over two days -- Friday-Saturday, February 16-17 -- with a total pool of 102 teams representing 16 conferences in a 51-game event. In an effort to provide a greater opportunity for NCAA Tournament-caliber teams, the event has expanded its pool of teams (18 in 2003, 46 in 2004, 64 in 2005, 100 in 2006, 102 in 2007) each year to produce a better cross section of squads for the basketball bonanza.

     The event has allowed Division I conferences to participate in a cutting-edge format that involves "wild-card" pairings for the pool of participating teams, with half of the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters teams pre-designated as "home" and the remaining half as "road" teams.

     The evaluation and pairings of teams for the ESPN television package was made by the staff of ESPN, in consultation with the commissioners of participating conferences. Consideration was given to avoid match-ups of conference teams and match-ups of any teams that have already met during the current season. Pairing decisions for the remaining games that will not be televised will be announced by Tuesday, January 30, 2007.

     America East is one of only seven conferences selected to participate in an O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters game each of the last three seasons. Last year, UAlbany played at Virginia Commonwealth University on ESPNU, while Vermont competed at Nevada in 2005 on ESPN2. The Colonial Athletic Association, Horizon League, Mid-American Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, Ohio Valley Conference and Western Athletic Conference are the other league's that have received nationally televised games as part of the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters' series in each of the last three seasons.

MEN'S BASKETBALL RECORDS 80-67 AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE WIN OVER HARTFORD

     Albany, N.Y. – Jamar Wilson scored 22 points and UAlbany tied a season-high with 12 three-point field goals in an 80-67 America East Conference victory over Hartford on Sunday, Jan. 21 at SEFCU Arena.

     UAlbany (12-7, AE 5-2) jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the opening eight minutes by making 5 of 8 three-point attempts against the Hawks’ zone defense.  Wilson, who had 13 first-half points, canned three long-range jumpers in that outburst.  Hartford (9-10, AE 3-4) closed the gap to 17-15 behind the play of Bo Taylor, a 6-foot-5 senior who made 10 of 17 from the floor en route to a career-high 28 point performance.

     The Great Danes, who won for the sixth straight time in this series, then pulled away with 18 of the game’s next 21 points.  Brent Wilson, who had 14 of his 18 points in the opening period as the America East player of the game, made one of his four 3-pointers to push the lead back to double figures.  Jon Iati, who scored 16 off the bench, drilled another three-pointer from the left wing.  Jamar Wilson then made a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a fastbreak layup for a 35-18 advantage with 2:26 left in the period.

     The Hawks, who have been the surprise team in the conference this season under first-year coach Dan Leibovitz, a former Temple assistant, sliced a 17-point halftime deficit to 39-27 early in the second half.  Taylor , the A-East player of the game, hit a slam dunk off a back-door play and Jaret Rosenberg nailed a three-pointer.  However, UAlbany responded with a 12-4 run.  Iati, who made 4-of-6 from the three-point arc, nailed on two long-range shots in that span.  He connected from the left wing in transition for a 51-31 margin with 14:19 remaining.

     “We were well rested, the two days off (from practice) did wonders for everyone,” said Brent Wilson, whose team had not played since last Monday after going through a four-game-in-seven-day stretch.  “I felt rejuvenated, especially my legs and back.  We moved the ball well against their zone.  At times we stand and watch, but when everyone gets involved we are a much better team.”

     The Great Danes, who won for the fourth time in their last five outings, extended that lead to as much as 24 points with less than five minutes to play.  Jamar Wilson, who added eight rebounds and six steals to his scoring total, split a pair of free throws for a 76-52 cushion.   Freshman Joe Zeglinski was the only other Hartford player in double figures with 14 points.

     “This was the most consistent that we have played this season,” offered Iati, a 5-foot-9 junior who put together consecutive double-figure scoring games for the first time this year, plus had five rebounds and three assists.  “We had some real good stretches.  We knew we would get some open three’s against their zone and it came down to making shots.”

UALBANY HOLDS OFF STONY BROOK, 66-61, IN AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAY

     Albany, N.Y. –  Jon Iati had 20 points off the bench and Jason Siggers added 15 in leading UAlbany to a 66-61 America East Conference victory over Stony Brook on Monday, Jan. 15 at SEFCU Arena.

     UAlbany (11-7, AE 4-2) went on a 14-5 run to open the second half in building a 38-28 advantage.  Jimmie Covington, a 6-foot-7 sophomore who earned America East player of the game recognition, scored seven of his career-high 11 points in that outburst.  He hit a jump hook and a pair of free throws to get things moving.  Covington added a three-point play when he was fouled on a left-handed turnaround in the lane.

     Stony Brook (6-11, AE 1-4) would close the gap to 38-34, when Solomon Bamiro, who had 12 points, converted a fastbreak layup and Mitchell Beauford sank two foul shots.  But the Great Danes responded with 14 of the game’s next 18 points.  Jamar Wilson made six consecutive free throws to ignite the run.  Siggers, who made 6-of-11 from the field, finished off a fastbreak after stealing an in-bounds pass, before Iati connected on the right baseline for a 52-38 lead midway through the period.

     The Seawolves would claw their way back into the contest over the next seven minutes behind the play of Ricky Lucas, a George Washington transfer who had 13 of his 17 points after halftime, and was the A-East  player of the game.  Lucas twice canned two free throws to slice the deficit to four, including 61-57 with 1:49 remaining.  However, UAlbany tallied its final five points from the charity stripe to hold off the charge.

     The Great Danes, who playing for the fourth time in the last seven days, led 24-23 at the break in an opening half that featured seven lead changes and one tie.  Iati, who had 15 first-half points, canned three 3-point field goals in the stanza.  His free throw with 4.9 seconds to play put his team ahead.

     “We were a tired basketball team tonight,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team has won 12 of its last 13 games at home.  “There are some guys who have logged a lot of minutes for us.  When we got up by 14 (points), I think we went into cruise control and looked fatigued.  Stony Brook plays extremely hard and has a very quick team.  Despite playing a poor first half, we still defended.”

     Beauford, a 5’11” junior, finished with 15 points and five rebounds for the Seawolves, who have lost five of their last six games.  Wilson, who had his six-game, double-figure scoring streak halted, had eight points, all from the line.  The Great Danes held the visitors to 39.7-percent shooting.

     “We were flat, tired or whatever you want to call it,” offered Iati, who made 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line.  “It’s my job to bring some energy off the bench and do whatever I can to help.  It’s been a tough schedule, but it has been for a lot of teams in our league.  We just need to get some rest over the next couple of days.” 

UALBANY’S JAMAR WILSON NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Jamar Wilson has been selected as America East Conference Player of the Week as announced on Monday, Jan. 15 by the conference office.  Wilson earned the weekly award for the third time this season and seventh time in his career.

     Wilson, a 6-foot-1 senior, averaged 24.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.0 steals in three games last week.  He recorded his third double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 65-61 triumph at UMBC on Jan. 9.  He made the go-ahead free throws with 31.2 seconds remaining.  Wilson had 31 points, the third-highest scoring total of his career, in an 82-73 win over Maine on Jan. 11.  He made consecutive 3-point field goals with 7:43 left to put his team ahead for good.

     In addition, Wilson became the school’s all-time leading scorer with a 22-point performance in last Saturday’s Vermont loss.  Wilson, who added six rebounds, five assists and four steals, eclipsed a record that was held by Gary Holway for nearly 48 years.  Holway scored 1,851 points from 1955-59.  Wilson now has 1,861 career points.  He netted 20-plus points for the 40th time as a collegian.

     Wilson leads America East in scoring at 18.6 points per game, plus is third in both rebounding (6.4 pg) and assists (5.1 pg).

UALBANY FALLS TO VERMONT IN AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE FIRST-PLACE SHOWDOWN

     Burlington, Vt. - Colin McIntosh scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half as Vermont recorded its seventh consecutive victory with a 75-66 America East Conference win over UAlbany on Saturday, Jan. 13 before a capacity crowd of 3,266 at Patrick Gymnasium.
     Vermont (12-5, AE 4-0) snapped a 41-all tie when freshman Joe Trapani canned a three-point field goal from the left wing. The Catamounts, who are in sole possession of first place in the conference standings, still led 57-54 with 7:43 remaining. But Chris Holm, a 6-foot-11 center who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, hit a jumper in the circle, and McIntosh later converted in the lane off a lob pass for an eight-point lead two minutes later.
     UAlbany (10-7, AE 3-2) could never mount a charge after that despite a career-high 34-point performance by Jason Siggers, who made 14-of-24 from field, and scored 22 by halftime. The Catamounts, who shot 57.4 percent from the field, defeated the visitors for the ninth consecutive time in Burlington since the series began in 1925.
     UAlbany's Jamar Wilson had 22 points and became the school's all-time leading scorer in the process. His driving one-hander in the lane with 18:55 remaining in the final period eclipsed Gary Holway's standard, which had stood since 1959. Wilson now has 1,861 points as a collegian. Vermont's Mike Trimboli added 15 points and five assists. Trapani finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
     "In the second half we had plenty of opportunities (to win the game), but we didn't take advantage of those situations," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team was held to 39-percent shooting after the break. "I thought we made bad decisions in transition and did a poor job of executing the overall offense. There was too much individual play on that end of the floor."
     UAlbany led 37-35 at halftime as both teams shot better than 50 percent in the opening stanza. In a half of runs, The Catamounts ran off seven unanswered to take a 25-20 advantage. The Great Danes regrouped with an 11-4 outburst, and went ahead, 31-29, on Wilson's three-pointer. Keith Cieplicki regained the lead for UVM with a long-range jumper, but Brett Gifford followed with a reverse layup and Wilson converted a drive.
     "We kept it close but we just didn't get it done," said Wilson, who reached the 20-point mark for the 20th time in his career. They are in first place right now and showed they are the team to beat. But our job is to win games the rest of the way and not worry about what other teams are doing."

     Albany, N.Y. – Jamar Wilson had 20 of his 31 points in the second half to pace four players in double figures in leading UAlbany past Maine, 82-73, in America East Conference play on Thursday, Jan. 11 at SEFCU Arena.

     UAlbany (10-6, AE 3-1) trailed 61-54 with 12:03 remaining, but then exploded with 14 of the game’s next 17 points.  Jason Siggers, who had 18 points, jump-started that run with a jumper in the lane and a three-point play when he was fouled on a fastbreak layup.  Wilson, a 6-foot-1 senior who made 11 of 19 from the field, later drilled back-to-back three-point field goals from let of the key to put his team ahead, 68-64, with 7:46 left.

     The Great Danes, who held the visitors to 30.8-percent shooting after halftime, still had a three-point lead three minutes later.  But Siggers made a pair of free throws and Wilson delivered his third 3-pointer from the left wing to push his team’s margin to 73-65.  UAlbany made 7-of-8 from the free throw line over the last minute to win for the fifth straight time in the series.

     Maine (5-11, AE 0-4) roared to a 25-15 advantage midway through the opening period.  Chris Bruff, a 6-foot-4 senior, had 16 of his 23 points in the half to help get his team off to a good start.  Jon Sheets, who made 5-of-9 from the three-point arc, added 13 of his 19 points before the break.  The Black Bears shot 53 percent in the first half, but had to settle for a 43-41 lead at the intermission.

     In the second half, Maine was able to build its margin back to 52-44 in opening four minutes of the stanza.  Sheets, a senior guard, canned two long-range jumpers, before freshman Mark Scooby, who had 16 points off the bench, made a 12-footer in the lane off the dribble.  UAlbany would close the gap to a single basket twice prior to going on its decisive run.

     “We didn’t have the mental toughness to win this game early in the season,” said Wilson, who is 13 points away from becoming the school’s all-time scoring leader, a record that has stood for 48 years.  “We were down the whole game and then climbed the hill.  You can tell by the scout that they want me to shoot (from the outside).  I’ve made a conscious effort to work on it.  They were switching on defense and I was open.”

     Brian Lillis and Brian Connelly had 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Great Danes, who have won 11 of their last 12 home games.  Wilson, who produced the third-highest single-game total of his career, registered six rebounds, four assists and two steals.  Lillis added to his second-best scoring game of the year with seven rebounds and four steals.  Junior Bernal, a 6’5” freshman, was the fourth Maine player in double digits with 11 points.

     “Jamar Wilson proved why he is the player of the year (in our conference),” said Maine coach Ted Woodward, whose team had its losing streak extended to six straight.  “He stepped up, made shots, and put them ahead.  He’s a complete player and a program-changer.  It was hard for us to catch up once they got the lead.”

     Baltimore, Md. - Jamar Wilson scored 19 points and made the go-ahead free throws with 31.2 seconds remaining as UAlbany rallied for a 65-61 America East Conference victory over UMBC on Tuesday evening at Retriever Activities Center.
     UMBC (6-10, AE 2-1) ran off eight unanswered points to take a 52-45 with 9:11 to play. Brian Hodges, who had 16 of his 24 points in the second half, put his team in front with a jumper in the lane and later buried a three-point field goal from the top of the arc to complete the run.
     UAlbany (9-6, AE 2-1) regrouped with nine of the game's next 11 points. Brian Connelly's conventional three-point play tied the contest at 54 apiece. Connelly was fouled as he scored on the left baseline after taking a feed from a driving Wilson.
     The Great Danes, who have won five straight in this series, took a 59-56 lead on Brent Wilson's 3-pointer, but Hodges would tie the contest at 61-all with a 22-footer from the right wing. Jamar Wilson, who added 10 rebounds and five assists, then made a pair of free throws after get hacked on a drive in the lane.
     "We didn't play our best basketball, but we did what we needed to do to get the win," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown, who returned to the bench after missing the previous game after a conference suspension. "We went small (lineup) during the course of the game. Jamar (Wilson) saw an opening and attacked it (on the last possession). He's been a clutch free throw shooter throughout his career."
     UMBC's Jay Greene, who had 16 points, missed a three-point attempt with six seconds left and Jason Siggers hauled in one of his eight rebounds. Siggers, who had 14 points, sank both ends of the one-and-one opportunity to clinch his team's first conference road win this season.
     UAlbany reversed a 15-11 deficit eight minutes into the contest with seven unanswered points. Jamar Wilson, who scored 11 in the period, made consecutive baskets to put his team ahead. The Great Danes, who connected on 14-of-28 shots before halftime, pushed out to a 27-19 lead on Siggers' fastbreak layup. The Retrievers closed with in two with 1:51 remaining, but Brent Wilson and Jamar Wilson drilled back-to-back three-point field goals.
     "The fact that we lost the lead and fell behind in our last game helped us to realize what was happening," said Jamar Wilson, who posted his third double-double of the season. "When you start to get tired and push through it that will get you through adversity. To have that hunger and will in those moments makes basketball fun."

     Vestal, N.Y. - Richard Forbes had 25 points, two off his career-high, to pace five players in double figures in leading Binghamton to an 83-72 America East Conference victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Jan. 6 at the Events Center.
     Binghamton (8-6, 1-1) pushed out to a double-figure lead in the opening two minutes of the second half, when Steve Proctor, who had 12 of his 18 points after halftime canned a three-point field goal from the left corner. Forbes, who made 8-of-12 from the field, hit another 3-pointer from the top of the arc, for a 49-35 advantage with 14:56 remaining.
     UAlbany (8-6, AE 1-1) would rally with 16 of the game's next 21 points. Jamar Wilson, who scored 16, made three 3-pointers in that outburst. Brian Connelly, who had 10 points and six rebounds off the bench, connected on a left baseline jumper that closed the gap to 54-51.
     The Bearcats, who shot nearly 58 percent from the floor, would pull away over the next three minutes. Troy Hailey would make a pair of free throws, before Lazar Trifunovic made a conventional three-point play. Trifunovic, who had 11 points, was fouled on a goaltending call and sank the foul shot for a 62-53 lead with 6:37 left.
     "We didn't take away what they do well. They executed and deserved to win," said associate head coach Eric Eaton, who coached the team during UAlbany head coach Will Brown's one-game suspension for violating the conference's Ethical Conduct policy. "We pride ourselves on our defense. It's defense that keeps you in the game when you are not shooting well."
     Brian Lillis had 12 points and 10 rebounds, his first career double-double, for the Great Danes, who allowed their most points in conference play since Feb. 2, 2003. Brent Wilson scored 11 to extend his double-digit scoring streak to eight straight. Binghamton's Mike Gordon and Duane James had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
     "We were stagnant (on defense). We were switching on a lot of their stuff and didn't talk," said Jamar Wilson. "It's tough when a team is that good on the perimeter. But we have to be on the same page and get some stops."
     The Bearcats, who shot 53.8 percent before the intermission, overcame an eight-point deficit in the opening period by holding the visitors scoreless for nearly five minutes. During that stretch, Binghamton ran off 13 unanswered points to go ahead, and eventually lead 36-31 at the break. Forbes, who had nine in that run, put his team in front on a pair of free throws with 3:16 left in the period.
     "Their style of play is much different. Last year they used to grind it out in the halfcourt," said Brent Wilson. "We just quit doing the little things. This stings because you have to bring everything to win on this floor."

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY BASKETBALL COACH WILL BROWN SUSPENDED FOR ONE GAME

     Boston , Mass. – University at Albany men’s basketball head coach Will Brown has been suspended for Saturday’s America East Conference game at Binghamton for violation of the league’s Ethical Conduct policy, as announced by the conference office on Thursday, Jan. 4. This action became necessary after Brown’s recent comments regarding UAlbany’s conference schedule.

     “I have discussed with Will Brown the inappropriate nature of his comments,” said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. “We have a process in place where coaches and administrators have an opportunity to comment on and request changes of their schedule. This process was completed with Albany in September.

     “We also have a policy in place on how best to address comments to the conference office,” Nero stated. “As a result of Will Brown’s comments he will be suspended for this Saturday’s Albany-Binghamton America East Conference game.”

     UAlbany appealed the decision to the America East Executive Committee which unanimously upheld the Commissioner’s decision.  “I am confident that this situation is behind us and we will have no further issues such as this,” Nero said.

      In his statement on the suspension, UAlbany Director of Athletics Lee McElroy commented, “After going through the appeal process, UAlbany accepts the decision to suspend Will Brown for violation of the conference's Ethical Conduct Policy by Commissioner Patrick Nero and the America East Executive Committee.  Associate Head Coach Eric Eaton will coach the team in Brown's absence at Binghamton on Saturday.”

MEN'S BASKETBALL UPENDS NEW HAMPSHIRE, 69-52, IN AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE OPENER

     Albany, N.Y. – Jamar Wilson had 12 of his 20 points in the final period in leading UAlbany to a 69-52 victory over New Hampshire in the America East Conference opener for both teams on Wednesday, Jan. 3 before 3,122 fans at SEFCU Arena.

     UAlbany (8-5, AE 1-0) led 44-41 midway through the second half, but then broke the contest open with 13 of the game’s next 17 points.  Jon Iati, who had seven points and four assists off the bench, hit a baseline jumper and then found Brian Lillis for a back-door layup to ignite that stretch.  Jason Siggers, who had 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, added a pair of baskets, before Wilson buried a three-point field goal from the top of the arc for a 57-45 advantage with 5:14 to play.

     New Hampshire (3-10, AE 0-1) was still within striking distance at 58-50, when Jermaine Anderson hit a short bank shot after his steal.  Anderson, a 6-foot-1 senior, finished with 18 points and made four 3-pointers.  But the Great Danes, who have won six of their last seven outings, came right back when Jamar Wilson and Brent Wilson connected on back-to-back three-pointers that pushed the lead back to double digits with 2:49 remaining.

     UAlbany reeled off 11 unanswered points to start the contest, as the visitors missed their opening four field goal attempts.  The Great Danes, who twice lost to New Hampshire in overtime during last year’s regular-season play, still led 29-20 with less than five minutes left in the stanza.  However, the Wildcats went on a 9-2 run to close out the half.  Blagoj Janev, a 6-foot-8 senior who had 13 points, canned a three-pointer from the left corner.  Anderson followed with another long jumper that drew his team even at 31 apiece at halftime.

     “The had confidence when they went to the locker room after being down early,” offered UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team won last year’s America East championship.  “We clamped down and defended in the second half.  We made our run when we went to the small lineup and that spread them out.  This is an important win because you have to take care of business on your home floor in conference play.”

     Mike Christensen added 11 points for the Wildcats, who were held to 31.6-percent shooting after the intermission on 6-of-19 attempts.  UAlbany’s Brent Wilson extended his double-figure scoring streak to seven straight with 10 points.  Jamar Wilson, who like Jermaine Anderson earned America East player of the game recognition, added to his scoring total with seven rebounds and five assists.

     “We kept our lead and extended it in the second half,” said Brent Wilson, whose team shot 57.1 percent from the field after halftime.  “Our rebounding was better, from the guard positions and throughout the lineup.  It’s good to get contributions from our bench because you need depth to be successful.”

UALBANY'S BRENT WILSON NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MEN'S BASKETBALL HAS FIVE-GAME WIN STREAK HALTED IN UTAH VALLEY STATE DEFEAT

     Orem, Utah - David Heck had 15 of his 19 points in the second half as Utah Valley State rallied for a 73-66 victory over UAlbany on Saturday, Dec. 30 at McKay Center.
     The Wolverines, who trailed by 10 at halftime, shot 60 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes in improving to 8-5 overall. UAlbany (7-5) had its five-game winning streak halted, including three straight on the road.
     UVSC broke a 52-all tie with seven unanswered points. Richard Troyer, who had all eight of his points after halftime, canned a three-pointer. Heck, who made 7-of-12 from the floor, followed with a basket, before Ryan Toolson made a pair of free throws following a bench technical with 4:54 remaining. Toolson finished with 16 points.
     UAlbany's Jamar Wilson, who scored 20, got his team within 61-57 with a jumper. But the Wolverines, who have won 17 of their last 20 at home, pushed their lead out to 70-60 in the closing moments.
     UAlbany guard Jon Iati netted a season-high 25 points off the bench, including a career-best seven 3-pointers. Brent Wilson added 13 points and eight rebounds. Matt Peterson was the third USVC player in double figures with 11, all in the final stanza.
     "We got into foul trouble right away in the second half and then just started exchanging baskets," UAlbany head coach Will Brown said. "We were flat defensively and they played with more energy and a sense of purpose. This is a tough place to play, but we didn't have a good defensive showing."
     In the first half, UAlbany reversed a 15-14 deficit with nine straight points. Freshman Reid Anderson put his team ahead with a three-point field goal from the left wing. Jamar Wilson, who had 14 first-half points, tallied the last four markers in that run, including a spinning jumper in the lane. Toolson closed the gap to 25-21 with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. But the Great Danes would take a 33-23 lead to the break as Iati made a pair of long-range shots, including a 22-footer with two seconds left in the period.
     Explained Iati, who scored more than 20 points for the eighth time in his career, "We didn't do what we needed to do to stop their (offensive) sets. They hit some shots and we stopped talking and communicating. When we lock people down defensively we are good, but when we don't we are average at best."
     The Great Danes start their America East Conference schedule with a home game against New Hampshire on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Binghamton for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday, Jan. 6.

UALBANY MEN'S BASKETBALL UPSETS UTAH, 59-58, FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY

     Salt Lake City, Utah - Jamar Wilson hit a fastbreak layup with 34 seconds remaining and Brent Wilson made a key steal in the closing moments, as UAlbany upset Utah, 59-58, on Thursday, Dec. 28 at Huntsman Center.
     The Great Danes, who posted their fifth straight victory, built a 48-39 lead midway through the second half on back-to-back three-point field goals by Jason Siggers, who scored a career-high 22 points off the bench. Utah (5-8) would rally with 13 of the game's next 16 points. Stephen Weigh, who netted a career-best 22 on 7-of-9 shooting, drilled a three-pointer, before Daniel Deane hit a 19-foot jumper that tied the contest at 52 apiece.
     The game went back-and-forth over the final five minutes. UAlbany (7-4) took a 57-54 lead when Jon Iati made a 22-foot, three-point shot. The Runnin' Utes, who have made 12 NCAA appearances since 1991, then went back in front. Weigh, a 6-foot-6 freshman, sank two free throws and Luke Nevill banked in a 15-foot turnaround under heavy pressure for a 58-57 advantage with 1:24 left.
     Nevill, a 7'1" center who had 17 points and seven rebounds, misfired on the left baseline which led to Jamar Wilson's break out for what proved to be the winning points. Brent Wilson, who totaled 22 points and nine rebounds, then came up with two big plays to seal the outcome. Wilson stole the ball off Nevill with eight seconds left and then grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity by Jamar Wilson, who had eight points and took a horrific spill with 44.9 seconds to play in the opening half. He returned after being treated for a neck sprain.
     "I am so happy for this team," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad won in an arena where the home team has won 83 percent of its games. "They fought through so much adversity in this game in one of the toughest places to play in the country. [Jason] Siggers and [Brent] Wilson turned in some special performances. We will enjoy this one."

     The Great Danes finish their two-game road trip with a game at Utah Valley State on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 9:05 p.m.
     "It's definitely great to win whether it's by twenty or by one. Coach [Brown] has been preaching defense all year and it is about time we figured it out. We were scared when Jamar [Wilson] went down with the injury. We just wanted to get it done for him. This is an example of how far this team has come," Brent Wilson said.

UALBANY MEN'S BASKETBALL HOLDS OFF CORNELL FOR A 78-75 WIN ON THE ROAD

     Ithaca, N.Y. - Brent Wilson had 19 points and Jamar Wilson added 17, as UAlbany posted its fourth consecutive victory in a 78-75 win over Cornell on Friday, Dec. 22 at Newman Arena.
     In a back-and-forth affair, Cornell (4-6) took a 68-66 lead on a three-point field goal by freshman Louis Dale, who had 15 of his 22 points in the final period. UAlbany (6-4) went back in front when Brian Lillis was fouled as he connected on driving layup from the left. Lillis, who matched a career-high with 14 points and added six rebounds and three blocks, completed the three-point play with a free throw.
     The Great Danes, who shot 63.6 percent from the field in the second half, would eventually move out to a 76-72 lead in the final minute. Lillis made a steal at mid-court and hit a layup. Jamar Wilson, who handed out six assists, later made a 10-foot jumper. Dale would close the gap with one of his 3 three-pointers. But Wilson sank two free throws with eight seconds remaining and Dale misfired from long range at the other end under heavy pressure.
     Freshman Ryan Wittman had 20 points, including four 3-pointers, while Graham Dow scored 12. The Big Red have dropped five of their last six games by a combined 15 points. UAlbany's Brent Wilson, who 12 second-half points, made 8-of-9 from field. Sophomore Jimmie Covington had a career night with seven points and seven rebounds off the bench.
     "We won't get any style points, but that's a good win because we stuck together and got it done," said head coach Will Brown, whose team is above .500 after ten games for the first time in the program's Division I history. "Cornell is tough to defend and they shoot the ball well from three. We feel better about ourselves because we have strung some wins together."
     Cornell led 34-32 at halftime by overcoming a pair of nine-point deficits in the period. UAlbany built a 23-14 margin when freshman Reid Anderson converted a three-point play when he was fouled on a baseline drive. The Big Red then held the visitors scoreless for six-plus minutes. During the span, Cornell ran off 10 unanswered points to go ahead on two free throws by Dow. Andrew Naeve's two foul shots gave his team the lead at the break
     "We just made the plays we needed to win the game," said Lillis, who had the same scoring total against Cornell in last year's contest. "There are so many things that happen in these close games. At halftime, I just said to the rest of the team that we get too satisfied when we have a lead. When we were up nine, we played with no purpose and were selfish."

UALBANY’S JAMAR WILSON NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Boston, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jamar Wilson has been chosen the America East Conference Player of the Week in basketball, as announced by the conference office on Monday, Dec. 18.  Wilson was honored for the second time this year, and has won the weekly award on six occasions during his career.

     Wilson, a 6-foot-1 senior, averaged 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in a pair of non-league victories over Harvard and St. Bonaventure last week.  He totaled 20 points, nine rebounds and tied a career-high with two blocks, as his team came from 13 down in the second half to upend Harvard, 79-76, on Dec. 12.  Wilson broke a 74-all tie by following his own miss in the lane and making a pair of free throws.  He had 13 of his 22 points in the first half in last Saturday’s 71-56 win against St. Bonaventure at SEFCU Arena.  Wilson, who scored 20-plus in back-to-back games for the first time this season, added eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals.

     Wilson, who moved past the 1,700-point mark as a collegian, leads the America East in scoring at 18.2 points per game.  He is also second in rebounding (7.4 pg) and third in assists (5.4 pg).  UAlbany (5-4) is above the .500 mark after nine games for the first time as a Division I program.

MEN'S BASKETBALL WINS THIRD STRAIGHT IN 71-56 VICTORY OVER ST. BONAVENTURE

     Albany, N.Y. – Jamar Wilson scored 22 points to pace four players in double figures, as UAlbany won its third straight in a 71-56 victory over St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Dec. 16 at SEFCU Arena.

     UAlbany (5-4) led 27-23 in the opening half, but then scored 11 of the game’s next 13 points to end the period.  Sophomore forward Brian Connelly, who had 10 points off the bench despite battling the flu over the last few days, scored in the lane, before freshman Reid Anderson hit a three-point field goal from the left corner.  Wilson, a 6’1” senior who also had eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals, ended that spurt with a 10-footer off the dribble and a pair of free throws for a 38-25 halftime advantage.

     St. Bonaventure (3-7) closed the gap to seven on two occasions early in the final period.  Zarryon Fereti, one of four Bonnies in twin figures with 11 points, made a pair of free throws to slice the deficit to 40-33 with 15:11 remaining.  But the Great Danes responded with a 10-3 run to pull away.  Brent Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior who recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, scored in the paint and made a three-pointer from the right corner during that stretch.  Jason Siggers gave his team a 50-36 lead when his layup attempt counted on a goal-tending call.

     The Great Danes, who held the visitors to 32.8-percent shooting on 19-of-58 attempts, pushed their margin to as much as 17 points over the final eight minutes of play.  Carl Ross converted a fastbreak layup from Jamar Wilson, the America East Conference player of the game, for a 62-45 lead with 5:37 left.  Siggers, a senior, finished with 16 points to extend his double-digit scoring streak to six games.

     “We are just trying to gain some momentum,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team is above the .500 mark after nine games for the first time in eight Division I seasons.  “Playing hard and being productive are two different things.  Why we are happy to get the win, but we had too many mental breakdowns on both ends of the floor.”

     A.J. Hawkins had 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bonnies, an Atlantic 10 Conference member who lost for the fifth straight time.  Paul Williams, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound post player, and James Williams scored 12 points apiece.  The two programs were meeting for the first time since 1929.

     “We executed on the offensive end, especially in our motion set,” said Jamar Wilson, who went over 1,700 points for his career.  “At times we were stagnant on defense.  We are trying to find that killer instinct when we have 12- to 15-point leads.  We want to put a bunch of wins together and create that steamroll effect.”

UALBANY RALLIES FROM SECOND-HALF DEFICIT FOR 79-76 ROAD WIN AGAINST HARVARD

     Cambridge, Mass. - - Brian Lillis blocked James Lambert's three-point field goal attempt in the closing seconds, as UAlbany rallied from a huge second-half deficit to post a 79-76 victory over Harvard on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Lavietes Pavilion.
     Harvard (5-4) built a 51-38 advantage with 14:11 remaining on a pair of free throws by Jim Goffredo, who was one of five Crimson players in double figures with 20 points. UAlbany (4-4) stormed back into the contest over the next six minutes behind the play of Jason Siggers, who had 15 of his 17 points in that span. Siggers converted a layup off Lillis' steal to tie the game at 63 apiece with 8:07 to play.
     Harvard eventually regained the lead at 68-65 on Goffredo's three-pointer from the left wing. But the Great Danes drew even at 72-all on a 3-pointer by Brent Wilson, who had 20 points and five rebounds. Jamar Wilson gave UAlbany the lead for good with two free throws and a put back of his own miss for a 78-74 lead. The 6-foot-1 senior finished with 20 points and nine rebounds.
     In the final twenty seconds, the Crimson, who had their four-game winning streak halted, had several opportunities to force overtime. But Goffredo missed a three-point try and Lillis blocked two perimeter jumpers. The Crimson's Evan Harris had 15 points, while Brian Cusworth, a 7-foot, 255-pound center, added 12 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots.
     "Hopefully we keep playing like we did the last ten minutes instead of the way we played the first thirty," said Lillis, who had nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and a career-high four blocks. "Defense is the way for us and the coaches have continually talked about it. It's tough to switch off on their perimeter players."
     Harvard led 33-31 at halftime in a game that was tight throughout the opening period. The Crimson wiped out a 24-21 deficit with seven straight points. Andrew Pusar (11 points) scored in a crowded land to put his team ahead. Still leading 27-26, Drew Housman (10 points) and Goffredo drilled back-to-back 3-pointers. However, the Great Danes, who shot just 33 percent in the stanza, clawed back into the fray by the break with Jamar Wilson and Siggers doing all of the scoring from the foul line.
     "We showed some mental toughness and took our game to another level," said head coach Will Brown, whose program rallied from a double-figure deficit in the second half for the seventh time at the Division I level. "We won the game, Harvard didn't lose it. I knew we couldn't outscore them. We defended them and made them defend us."

MEN'S BASKETBALL ENDS FOUR-GAME LOSING STREAK WITH 62-52 WIN OVER BROWN

     Albany, N.Y. – Jason Siggers scored 17 points and Brent Wilson added 16 as UAlbany snapped a four-game losing streak with a 62-52 non-conference win over Brown on Saturday, Dec. 9 at SEFCU Arena.

     Brown (3-7) rallied from a 44-29 deficit in the second half to close within five on two occasions.  Damon Huffman, who had 15 points, sank a pair of free throws to get his team within 48-43 with 8:45 remaining.  However, UAlbany (3-4) would push the lead back to double figures when senior guard Jamar Wilson, who fell just short of a triple-double with nine points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, followed his own miss in the lane and Brent Wilson buried a three-point field goal from the top of the arc.

     The Great Danes led 20-16 midway through the opening period, but then ran off 12 unanswered points.  Jon Iati ignited that stretch with a 3-point field goal from the right corner.  Jamar Wilson converted a drive with a one-handed scoop off the glass, before Brent Wilson drilled one of his four 3-pointers.  Siggers, who 10 first-half points, hit a layup after Jamar Wilson’s steal to hand his club a 32-16 advantage.

     UAlbany led 37-29 early in the final period, but then re-established their margin with a string of seven straight points.  Brian Connelly, who had eight points and five rebounds, connected with a jump hook on the left baseline.  Brent Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior, added another long-range jumper from the right wing, before Jamar Wilson’s 15-footer closed out the run.

     “They are a disciplined and dangerous team,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad has won 13 of its last 15 at home.  “They expose the slightest breakdown on defense.  We defended well in the first half, but had too many mental lapses in the second half.  We were flat offensively when they threw the 1-3-1 (defense) at us.”

     Mark McAndrews led all scorers with 19 points for the Bears, who were held to the lowest shooting figure by an opponent (27.5 percent) in the UAlbany program's Division I history.  UAlbany’s Brent Wilson, who has 5-for-8 from the floor and added six rebounds, broke out his three-game shooting slump.

     “It’s definitely good to win,” said Siggers, who made 7-of-13 from the field and scored in twin figures for the fourth straight time.  “We defended, rebounded and made some shots.  Everyone was hungry today.  We just have to continue to buy in to what we are doing defensively.  

MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS 75-57 DECISION TO VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH AT SEFCU ARENA

     Albany, N.Y. – B.A. Walker scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half, as Virginia Commonwealth pulled away for its fourth straight win in a 75-57 victory over UAlbany on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at SEFCU Arena.

     The Great Danes, who led by as much as 10 points in the opening half, were still ahead 26-18 when Jamar Wilson converted a left-handed drive.  The 6-foot-1 senior finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists to earn America East Conference player of the game honors.

     Virginia Commonwealth (6-2) then went to work with two separate runs.  The Rams scored 13 of the period’s final 15 points to take a 31-28 halftime lead.  Jesse Pellot-Rosa, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds, sliced the margin in half with a tip-in.  Walker later canned one of his five 3-pointers following an offensive rebound to put his team ahead.

     VCU held a 37-31 advantage early in the final stanza, but then seized control with a 17-3 outburst.  Wil Fameni, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound transfer from Arizona State , ignited that stretch with a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a basket in the lane.  Jamal Shuler had six of his 11 points in that span, including a three-pointer from the left wing.  Walker, who made 10-of-15 from the field, connected on a driving layup to push his team’s lead to 54-34 with 11:56 remaining.

     “They seemed to have more pep in their step,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team played a VCU squad they met in last year’s BracketBusters event.  “They outplayed us with their athleticisim, length and quickness.  We struggled in the halfcourt once they went to a small lineup.”

     Fameni had 10 points and six rebounds for the Rams, who shot 68 percent from the floor after halftime on 17-of-25 attempts.  Michael Anderson added five points and a team-high nine rebounds.

     Jason Siggers had 13 points for the Great Danes, who saw their seven-game home winning streak come to an end.

      “We need to find ourselves,” said Wilson , whose club lost for the fourth consecutive time after opening with a pair of wins.  “When they started to hit some shots, we got lackadaisical.  We’re not playing like champions right now.  We were embarrassed on our home floor.  We need to defend better and get tougher.”

UALBANY FALLS TO CROSSTOWN-RIVAL SIENA, 76-75, IN DOUBLE OVERTIME AT PEPSI ARENA

     Albany, N.Y. - Kenny Hasbrouck scored 22 points and hit a pull-up jumper in the lane with one minute and 11 seconds left in the second overtime to lead Siena to a 76-75 victory over UAlbany before 11,271 fans on Saturday, December 2 at Pepsi Arena.
     Jamar Wilson, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds, had a couple of opportunities to possibly put UAlbany (2-3) ahead at the end. He missed a driving shot in the lane with nine seconds remaining. Jason Siggers then grabbed the offensive rebound, but Siena's Ronald Moore stole the ball. Moore, who was fouled on the play, missed both free throws, but Wilson's three-pointer at the buzzer rattled in and out.
     "It was a great game for anyone who bought a ticket," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. "It's obvious that winning is important to both schools. We had plenty of opportunities to win the game. But we didn't make free throws and had one or two defensive breakdowns at the wrong time."
     Siena (3-3) came from 59-55 down in regulation to force the first extra period, as Kenny Hasbrouck made two free throws with 42.1 seconds left. Siggers, who had 14 of his 17 points in the overtimes, made consecutive 3-pointers to begin the first session, but the Saints fought back and drew even at 69 apiece on David Ryan's free throw. In the second extra period, the lead changed hands several times. Siggers connected on another long-range jumper for a 75-71 advantage. Hasbrouck answered on his team's next possession with a 3-pointer off a screen.
     Freshman Edwin Ubiles had 20 points, including 4 three-pointers, for the Saints, who have won five of the last six meetings in this series, including two consecutive overtime decisions. UAlbany's Brian Lillis and Brian Connelly had 12 and 11 points, respectively.
     "A double-overtime loss is going to sting for awhile," said Siggers. "We were not as focused on defense, and you can't let that happen if you're going to win. My shot wouldn't go in the hole until late in the game. If I get an open shot, I am going to keep trying."
     Siena reversed a 25-24 deficit in the first half with seven unanswered points. Ryan hit a layup, before Ubiles canned a 3-pointer from the right wing. Hasbrouck completed the run with a pair of free throws. The Saints, who shot 52 percent in the opening period, would take a 34-30 lead to the locker room.

CONNECTICUT HAS SIX IN DOUBLE FIGURES TO LEAD HUSKIES OVER UALBANY

     Storrs, Conn. - Gavin Edwards scored 16 points and Marcus Johnson added 14 in leading No. 18 Connecticut to an 86-55 victory over UAlbany on Sunday evening before a capacity crowd of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion.
     In a matchup between two teams that staged a memorable battle in last year's NCAA Tournament, UAlbany (2-2) led 18-17 after the opening 10 minutes. But Connecticut (5-0) came back with seven straight points to go ahead for good. Edwards, a freshman who added five rebounds, converted a three-point play when he was fouled on a shot in the lane to put his team in front.
     The Huskies still led 25-22 with less than eight minutes to play in the period, but then reeled off 13 unanswered points. Freshman guard Jerome Dyson had five of his 12 markers in that run, while Johnson added four. UConn took a commanding 47-31 lead to the break by shooting 64 percent from the field.
     "We lost this game in the first half with the 21 points they scored off turnovers," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. "UConn is a young, talented team that played with a lot of energy. We didn't handle their pressure well and got rattled, plus some of our key guys got into foul trouble."
     Hasheem Thabeet, a freshman from Tanzania, totaled 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots for the Huskies, whose lead hovered around 20 most of the second half until things got out of hand in the final five minutes. Jeff Adrien was the sixth player in double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds.
     Jamar Wilson had 18 points and five steals for the Great Danes, who were unraveled by 21 turnovers that led to 35 UConn points. Jason Siggers had 16 points and seven rebounds. UAlbany was held to 35.2-percent shooting from the floor.
     "We are still trying find ourselves and need to keep making positive strides," said Jamar Wilson. "They are a young groups of kids who are playing hungry. They took pride in playing defense."

UALBANY MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS FIRST ROAD GAME TO SACRED HEART

     Fairfield, Conn. - Chauncey Hardy and Joey Henley scored 15 points apiece to pace six players in double figures in leading Sacred Heart to a 90-71 victory over UAlbany on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at William H. Pitt Center.
     Sacred Heart (2-3) made 12-of-27 from three-point range and shot 54.2 percent from the field to bounce back from a nine-point road loss at Lehigh two days earlier.
     "We played like we were supposed to win," said UAlbany head coach Will Brown. "They shot the ball extremely well and it was a poor effort by us defensively. They extended us and it was just a lack of focus."
     Freshman guard Ryan Litke had a career-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers. His long-range shot from the left corner gave his team a commanding 73-55 advantage with 7:47 remaining. Luke Granato added 12 points, while All-Northeast Conference guard Jarrid Frye added 11.
     UAlbany (2-1) continued to struggle on the defensive end in the final period, as the Pioneers made 16-of-24 field goals. The effort offset Brent Wilson's career-high 29 points. Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior, made six 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds. Jamar Wilson and Brian Lillis added 17 and 11 points, respectively.
     "We didn't come ready to play," said Brent Wilson. "We scored enough points, but when you give up 90 you are not giving yourself a chance. We have been spoiled the first two games playing in front of big crowds. Tonight we needed to create our own energy."
     Sacred Heart built a 47-36 halftime lead on the strength of eight 3-point field goals in the period. The Pioneers trailed 19-18 midway through the period, but wiped that out with seven straight points. Hardy, who came off the bench to score 11 first-half points, hit one of his three long-range jumpers in that run. Still leading 41-36, Granato canned a three-pointer and Henley converted a three-point play when he was fouled on a drive to the hoop.

BASKETBALL’S JAMAR WILSON NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Boston, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jamar Wilson has been selected as the America East Conference Player of the Week in basketball, as announced by the conference office on Monday, Nov. 20.

     Wilson, a 6-foot-1 senior, scored 33 points, the second-highest total of his career, in an 87-67 non-conference victory over Delaware on Nov. 17.  He added 10 rebounds, six assists and just one turnover in 38 minutes played.  He posted his third career double-double, the first since Feb. 16, 2003, and scored 30-plus points for the sixth time as a collegian.

     Wilson, the 2006 America East player of the year, is averaging 22.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.  UAlbany has won its opening two contests for the just the second time as a Division I program.  

UALBANY MEN'S BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON WITH SECOND STRAIGHT WIN IN 87-67 TRIUMPH

     Albany, N.Y. –  Jamar Wilson scored 33 points, the second-highest total of his career, and grabbed 10 rebounds in leading UAlbany to an 87-67 non-conference victory over Delaware on Friday, Nov. 17 at SEFCU Arena.  The Great Danes have won their opening two games for just the second time since moving to the Division I level in 1999.

     Delaware (0-2) led 20-19 with 8:06 remaining in first half, when Herb Courtney, a 6-foot-7 junior who had 18 points and 10 rebounds, canned one of his four 3-point field goals.  The opening part of the contest featured five lead changes and three ties.

     UAlbany (2-0) then seized control with 10 of the game’s next 11 points.  Brent Wilson put his team ahead with a three-pointer from the top of the arc.  Wilson , who 18 first-half markers, later hit a foul-line jumper and one his three 3-point shots.  Michael Knight followed a missed free throw for a 30-21 lead with 5:21 left in the period.  The Great Danes, who made 15-of-27 from the field, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range in that opening stanza, would later settle for a 43-32 halftime lead.

     Jason Siggers, a senior swingman who had 17 points, helped his team pull away to start the final period with three consecutive baskets.  He made a 12-foot jumper in the lane off the dribble and followed with a slam dunk off a steal for a 50-32 margin.

     The Blue Hens, who were meeting the home team for the first time in the two program’s history, trailed by as much as 21 points with seven minutes remaining.  Zaire Taylor, who had 15 points and eight rebounds, converted a three-point play when he was fouled on a driving layup to slice the deficit to 73-61 with 4:16 left.  But freshman center Brett Gifford hit a turnaround jumper in the lane, and the Great Danes held on to their double-figure advantage at the foul line.

     “I thought we did a decent job defensively the last 10 minutes of the first half and the first part of the second half,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, who got solid contributions from his bench, including a career-high six points and three rebounds from sophomore forward Brian Connelly.  “We just need to play with a sense of urgency throughout the game.”

     Brian Johnson added 15 points and five assists for the Blue Hens, who were held to 36.7-percent shooting in the second half on 11-of-30 attempts. Wilson , last year’s America East Conference player of the year, made 10-of-15 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the line to go with six assists and just one turnover.

     “My legs felt good and I was fresh,” said Wilson, the America East Player of the Night who struggled through the second half of the season opener six days ago with leg cramps.  “My teammates were always looking to find me.  Overall, we did a good job of making sure that we sealed the deal in the second half.”

     The Great Danes, who shot 52.9 percent from the floor for the game, played their opening two contests at home for the first since the 1994-95 campaign.

BASKETBALL'S JASON SIGGERS NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Boston, Mass. – University at Albany’s Jason Siggers has been selected the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s basketball on Monday, Nov. 13 for his performance in last Saturday’s 55-49 victory over Bucknell before a capacity crowd at SEFCU Arena.

     Siggers, a 6-foot-4 senior from Dallas , Texas , tallied 11 of his 17 points in the opening half to keep his team in the contest.  The Great Danes overcame the largest halftime deficit in the program’s Division I history, trailing 34-22 at the intermission.  In his first career start, Siggers made 7-of-13 from the field, tied a career-best with seven rebounds, and played a career-high 37 mintues.  He scored on the left baseline with 2:47 remaining to draw his team even at 48 apiece.  Siggers reached in double figures for the seventh time as a collegian.

     The Great Danes, who face Delaware at home on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m;, held Bucknell to 29.8 percent shooting, the lowest figure by an opponent since Feb. 14, 2004.

UALBANY COMES FROM BEHIND FOR 55-49 VICTORY OVER BUCKNELL IN SEASON OPENER

     Albany, N.Y. -- Jason Siggers had 17 points and Brian Lillis added 11, all in the second half, as UAlbany overcame a huge deficit to post a 55-49 victory over Bucknell in the season opener for both squads on Saturday evening before a capacity crowd of 4,538 at SEFCU Arena.

     Bucknell, a program that has captured back-to-back Patriot League titles and won its first-round NCAA Tournament contest the last two years, trailed 15-14 in the first half, but then ran off 20 of the game’s next 24 points.  Jason Vegotsky, who came off the bench to score 13 points, and Andrew Morrison drilled consecutive three-point field goals to ignite that outburst.  John Griffin, who tied a career-high with 19 points, canned one his four 3-point shots and later made two free throws for a double-figure lead.  Vegotsky’s hit another long-range jumper from the left corner to end that run.

     The Great Danes, who had two banners unveiled in a pre-game ceremony to commemorate their first-ever America East Conference championship and subsequent NCAA appearance, regrouped from a 34-22 halftime deficit.  Jamar Wilson, who had 12 points and six assists despite suffering from leg cramps over the final nine minutes, converted a one-hander in the lane to close the gap to 36-33 with 11:57 remaining.

     UAlbany would eventually take its first lead of the final period, when Lillis and Brent Wilson made back-to-back three-pointers for a 44-40 edge.  The Bison, who shot just 19 percent after halftime on 4-of-21 from the floor, returned the favor as Griffin , a 6-foot-1 junior, nailed consecutive field goals from beyond the arc to put his team ahead.

     Bucknell still was in front, 49-48, with 2:25 to play as Vegotsky split a pair of free throws.  But Lillis, a 6-foot-5 junior who added five rebounds and four steals to his best scoring total since Jan. 9th of last year, sank two foul shots with 51.3 seconds remaining.  He then made a steal that led to two more free throws.  Vergotsky would later miss a 3-pointer under heavy pressure in the closing moments.  Brian Connelly grabbed the rebound and made both ends of a one-and-one opportunity to seal the outcome.

     “After the first half we knew it was our defense that was keeping us behind,” Lillis said.  “As the pressure was building we knew how to pull through and win this game because we had been there before.  With Jamar (Wilson) not in there, we played together even more.”

     The Bison, who had won three of the previous four meetings between the two programs, made just 29.8 percent of their field goal attempts and committed 20 turnovers. Siggers, who was making his first start in a UAlbany uniform, connected on 7 of 13 from the floor and tied a career-high with seven rebounds to earn America East Player of the Night recognition.

     “This was a team win,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose club beat a program that was receiving votes in both national polls.  Bucknell will take advantage of any of your miscues.  We didn’t stick to our principles in the first half.  We are good team trying to get better and this was a great atmosphere to play in.”

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS TWO STUDENT-ATHLETES FOR 2007-08

     Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany men's basketball coach Will Brown announced on Thursday, Nov. 9 that two student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2007-08 academic year.  Billy Allen, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound swingman from Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton H.S.), and Anthony Raffa, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound point guard from Strathmere, N.J. (Wildwood Catholic H.S.) each made his commitment during the early signing period.

     Allen was named to the 2005-06 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio squad in the honorable mention category.  He averaged 17.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists when he was chosen to the All-Southwest District second team.  Allen, who posted a triple-double in one game as a junior, also earned a spot on the All-Greater Miami Conference squad.  He contributed 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in his sophomore campaign, and was the sixth man on Hamilton 's 2003-04 Division I state championship team.

     "He understands the game as a coach's son," UAlbany head coach Will Brown said.  "He is a big-time shooter and plays every position on the floor for his high school team.  His versatility, shooting ability and physical make-up will allow him the opportunity to make an impact as a freshman."

     Raffa was the second-leading scorer in the Cape Atlantic League at 22.7 points per game.  He also ranked among the league leaders in assists (3.0 pg), steals (3.3 pg) and free throw percentage (.715).  As a junior, he was voted first-team All-Cape Atlantic League National Conference.  Raffa led Wildwood Catholic to New Jersey 's Non-Public Class B final, the program's first appearance in the championship since 1988.  The Crusaders, who went 22-8 overall, also captured the South Jersey , sectional and CAL National titles.  Raffa averaged 11.0 points per game as a sophomore.

     "He is our point guard of the future and a fierce competitor," Brown offered.  "He led his team to the state championship game and played at the prestigious ABCD summer camp last year.  He is fearless and can flat out make plays, so we have high expectations that he will have a postive effect on our program from day one."

     UAlbany made its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance after winning the America East Conference championship last season with a 21-11 record.  The Great Danes have two seniors on their current roster in reigning America East player of the year and Associated Press All-America Jamar Wilson (6'1") and projected starter Jason Siggers (6'4").

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2007-08 University at Albany Men's Basketball Signings

Name                                      Pos.    Ht.       Wt.       Hometown (High School)

Billy Allen                                 G/F      6-6       210      Hamilton , Ohio (Hamilton)

Anthony Raffa                             G       6-1       175      Strathmere, N.J. (Wildwood Catholic)

UALBANY BASKETBALL CRACKS THIS WEEK'S MID-MAJOR NATIONAL TOP 25 POLL

     Albany, N.Y. – UAlbany is ranked 25th in this week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 men’s basketball national poll.  The Great Danes, who are coming off a 21-11 campaign, captured their first-ever America East Conference championship and earned an NCAA Tournament berth last year.

     Creighton, from the Missouri Valley Conference, is the nation’s top mid-major team, while Gonzaga and Hofstra are second and third respectively.  Bucknell, who meets UAlbany in the season opener on Saturday, is ranked No. 6.  The Bison, who went 27-5 last year and won their second consecutive Patriot League title, have defeated Kansas and Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament the last two years.

     The UAlbany-Bucknell contest on Nov. 11 at SEFCU Arena will tip off at 7:05 p.m.  A ceremony to honor last year’s conference champions will be held prior to the game at 6:45 p.m.  UAlbany will unveil two banners, one for America East title and one recognizing the NCAA appearance, plus each member of the team and coaching staff will receive a championship ring.  Lucious Jordan, a member of the 2006 America East all-tournament squad, and Jerrad Knotts will represent last year’s senior class at the ceremony.

     Paw Prints:  Less than 1,000 tickets remain for Saturday’s season opener ... the UAlbany ticket office phone is 518-442-4683 … SEFCU Arena seats capacity crowds of 4,538 … Jamar Wilson was named today by ESPN.com as one of nine mid-major basketball stars to watch … Wilson was named to the 2006 Associated Press All-America squad … Bucknell is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN national polls … the Great Danes are 4-3 in home openers as a Division I program.

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The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll

1. Creighton, 2. Gonzaga, 3. Hofstra, 4. Southern Illinois , 5. Wichita State , 6. Bucknell, 7. George Mason, 8. Akron , 9. Winthrop , 10. Western Kentucky , 11. Missouri State , 12. Toledo , 13. Loyola ( Chicago ), 14. Oral Roberts, 15. Drexel, 16. Loyola Marymount, 17. Marist, 18. Northern Arizona , 19. Montana , 20. Pennsylvania , 21. Old Dominion, 22. College of Charleston , 23. Long Beach State , 24. Sam Houston State , 25. UAlbany.

UALBANY ANNOUNCES MEN'S BASKETBALL TELEVISION SCHEDULE FOR 2006-07 SEASON

     Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy announced on Tuesday, Nov. 7 the school’s men’s basketball television schedule for the 2006-07 season.  The Great Danes will appear six times on the America East Conference package, while Time Warner Cable will televise five games.  UAlbany’s meeting with No. 18 Connecticut, a rematch of last year’s NCAA first-round game, will also be seen on Fox Sports New York and ESPN Full Court .

     America East and ESPN Regional Television will team up to produce and distribute games throughout the conference’s geographical footprint.  The telecasts will also be available on-line via video streaming at AmericaEast.com, through the conference’s multi-media partner, XOS Technologies.  UAlbany has three home dates, New Hampshire (Jan. 3), Binghamton (Feb. 3) and Boston U. (Feb. 25), on the schedule.  Three conference away games, Vermont (Jan. 13), Boston U. (Jan. 24) and Maine (Feb. 7), will also be televised.

     Time Warner Cable will offer five games on its TW3 channel, starting with a non-conference home game against St. Bonaventure on Dec. 16.  The TW3 package also features Stony Brook (Jan. 15), Hartford (Jan. 21) UMBC (Jan. 31) and Vermont (Feb. 11).

     Time Warner Cable serves more than 400,000 customers in the Capital Region and western Massachusetts.  TWC’s Albany Division operates one of the most sophisticated cable systems in the nation and is home to New York ’s first two-way digital network.

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UAlbany Men's Basketball Television Schedule

Nov. 26, (Sun.), at Connecticut (FSNY), 5:00

UALBANY TUNES UP FOR MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON WITH EXHIBITION WIN OVER LAVAL

     Albany, N.Y. – Brent Wilson and Michael Knight each scored nine points to lead a balanced attack, as UAlbany posted a 63-43 exhibition victory over Laval (Quebec) on Friday, Nov. 3 at SEFCU Arena.  The Great Danes, who are coming off their first-ever America East Conference championship and NCAA Division I Tournament berth, begin the 2006-07 season against Bucknell on Nov. 11.