The University at Albany men's basketball team, playing its inaugural Division I season, met Big East power Syracuse on Dec. 7 at the Carrier Dome. The Orangemen, who are nationally ranked, defeated the Great Danes 86-46. The two programs are scheduled to play through 2003–2004, including one date at the Pepsi Arena in downtown Albany.

Nine buses transported nearly 500 students, alumni, faculty and staff to the Carrier Dome for the Albany-Syracuse basketball game. This group of Great Dane supporters enjoyed their courtside seats behind the Albany bench.

Senior guard Todd Cetnar, a native of Amsterdam, N.Y., scored a team-leading 13 points against the 12th-ranked Orangemen. The Danes will play at Rutgers, another Big East Conference school, on Feb. 14.