Food, Fun and Basketball on Display at Big Purple Growl
ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2024) — More than 3,700 fans turned out for food, fun and basketball as the Great Danes men's basketball team took on UMBC on Saturday night at Broadview Center. Graduate guard Tyler Bertram scored 36 points, redshirt sophomore Amar'e Marshall added 25 as UAlbany battled UMBC in an America East conference matchup.
The Retrievers won the battle of the canine mascots, 114-102, but the close loss didn't stop UAlbany's supporters from having a great time as alumni, students and other fans gathered for a pregame feast and activities at the PE Gym. The crowd then made their way to the newly refurbished Broadview Center, where the men's basketball team kept pace in the high-scoring matchup, trailing by just one point, 45-44 at halftime.
After UMBC raced out to a 17-point lead with less than nine minutes to go, a 3-pointer by Bertram got the Great Danes back into the contest as the team pulled to within seven at 101-94 with 1:48 remaining. But UAlbany would get no closer as the Retrievers put away their foul shots to secure the win.
President Havidán Rodríguez, UAlbany football coach Greg Gattuso and several members of the football team also helped cheer on the Great Danes during the contest.
The team travels next to Binghamton on Feb. 8, before returning to Broadview Center on Thursday, Feb. 15 for a game against NJIT.
Meanwhile, the women's basketball team takes on Binghamton at home on Thursday, Feb. 8. The annual Commitment to Education Day sees the Great Danes host students from various Capital Region schools. The game tips off at 11 a.m. at Broadview Center.