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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.