UALBANY MOVES INTO THE 8TH SEED IN THE AMERICA EAST TOURNAMENT

Binghamton President Lois DeFleur announced in today's press conference, "With the controversy currently surrounding the program it is not appropriate we play in this year's post-season,”. Without Binghamton in the tournament who was to be the 5th seed, the seeding for tournament has changed drastically. This nullifies the play-in game which would have been between UAlbany and UMBC scheduled for Thursday. Now all 8 teams participating will play on Saturday. The games being played on Saturday will be:

#1 Stony Brook vs. # 8 UAlbany (12:00 pm)
#4 Boston vs. #5 Hartford (2:15 pm)
#2 Vermont vs. #7 UMBC (6:00 pm)
#3 Maine vs. #6 New Hampshire (8:15 pm)

The new seeding helps UAlbany stay fresh and guarantees them a game against Stony Brook instead of having to play for a chance at a third meeting. Although UAlbany has lost to all their opponents in the America East aside from UMBC, they have played particularly well against Stony Brook. In their first meeting, Stony Brook won by 6 points in a very close game at Stony Brook. In the second meeting at SEFCU Arena, Stony Brook's Muhammad El-Amin hit a jump shot over Billy Allen with 1.8 seconds left on the clock to put Stony Brook up 2 and eventually win the game.

UAlbany has a good chance at pulling another huge upset in the tournament. Last year, UAlbany was the 7th seed, and pulled off an entertaining overtime victory against #2 seeded Vermont.

UALBANY MEN CLOSE OUT THE REGULAR SEASON IN OVERTIME

UALBANY men's basketball finished the regular season today with an overtime loss to Hartford despite a great effort by Will Harris who finished the game with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.

The game was evenly played from the beginning tip. With Albany down 4 with a couple seconds left to go in the first half, Billy Allen drained a three pointer at the buzzer to end the half.

In the second half, Will Harris's stellar play kept the Dane's afloat. With 12 seconds left in the second half, with the score 72-70 in Albany's favor, Hartford junior Anthony Minor was fouled by Brett Gifford. The foul sent Minor, a 61% foul shooter to the line for a 1-and-1. Minor made the two free throws and knotted the game up at 72. Will Harris shot a well contested NBA range three pointer that came up short. In the overtime period, Hartford went an early 6-0 run that Albany never recovered from and was outscored 7 to 13 at the end of the extra period, leaving a final score of, Hartford, 85, Albany 79.

The Great Danes will be traveling back to Hartford for the America East Conference Tournament on Thursday, where they will play UMBC in the first game of the tournament. Albany has their only two conference wins against UMBC, which favors them in their third meeting.

Albany vs Hartford Live Blog

Hartford wins 63-57 Delva leads all scorers with 22, Johnson leads for Albany with 18

Albany 57 Hartford 61 40.9 secs remaining, Albany ball

Albany 57 Hartford 59 1:54 remaining: Henry hits 3 free throws

Albany 54 Hartford 55 3:50 remaining: If you look at the stats, the only reason Hartford is in this game is free throw. Hartford is 14-15 from the line, Albany is just 3-5

Albany 52 Hartford 55 5:40 remaining

ALbany 52 Hartford 52 6:10 remaining:

6:56 remaining 2nd half, Albany 50 Hartford 50

Danes Honor Seniors as They Look to Keep Rolling

Charity Iromuanya               (UAlbany Athletics)

Tonight is the Final home game of the season for the UAlbany Women's Basketball team, as they will take on conference rival Hartford. The Danes (10-17, 3-11 AEC), will have a tough match-up as Hartford (23-3, 14-0 AEC) is ranked #23 in the nation coming into tonights game, and are currently on a 16 game winning streak. Hartford's biggest offensive threat is Diana Delva, who is averaging 13.9 points per game, which is tied for 5th in the America East Conference, and scored 16 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in just 25 minutes in the last game between these two teams on January 24th.
However, this is not the same Albany team that was handed the 23 point loss in Hartford a month ago. The Danes have won 3 of their last 5 games, and have also held double digit leads against Vermont and Boston, who are 2nd and 3rd in the conference respectively. Additionally, the Danes are a far better team at home, with a 7-6 record when playing at the SEFCU Arena this season (as opposed to 3-11 on the road).
The Danes are lead by senior guard Charity Iromuanya, who will be honored before tonight's game. Iromuanya, who won the America East Conference player of the week, last week, when she averaged 22 points per game, when she had never scored 20 points in a game prior to last week, including scoring 29 points, including the game winner in an overtime win vs New Hampshire.
Also winning an award for last week's play was freshman foward Julie Forster, who was named the America East Freshman of the week. Forster currently leads all players in the America East in rebounding have pulled down 226 rebounds (8.4 per game), and broke the UAlbany record for rebounds in a season by a freshman, which had been held by Danielle Hutcheson.

Game time tonight at the SEFCU Arena is at 7. If you aren't able to make the game, listen in to the live radio broadcast on 90.9FM or wcdbfm.com

-David Rothman
Asst. Sports Director WCDB 90.9FM (Albany)

Farewell to the UA Seniors

As many of you know, the men's college basketball season is almost over, and this year the UA basketball team is graduating several members:

#3: Will Harris

#11: Mike Johnson

#12: Scotty McRae

#54: Brett Gifford

So come on out, and support the remaining members of UA's last NCAA Tournament team for Senior Night against Stony Brook next Friday, February 19th

Big Purple Growl Ticket Giveaways!!!

 

The Annual Big Purple Growl and Ferocious Feast is back!!!

The Womens Basketball team will be facing off against the Vermont Catamounts while the mens team has a tough match up against Boston Uniiversity!

Students DONT wait online before the game in the freezing cold win a pair of tickets on the radio listen to WCDB 90.9 FM from 6-8 pm Friday

Non- Students call in also and you will have a chance to win a pair of tickets

Also dont forget to listen to the game on WCDB 90.9 FM on the radio or online!!!!!

Sports Broadcasters
Jon Wiener
Dave Rothman

Producers
Eric Michelson

UA Mens Basketball holds strong agaisnt UNC but falls short 87-70

Last nights loss to the UNC showed great pride and team unity with the Great Danes.The first half of the game Albany was not able to keep up only shooting 29pts to UNC 46 pts. The two players to step - up and score more than half of Albany's total points. Will Harris playing great defense getting 6 rebounds and also doing a great job on the offensive end with 22pts. Billy Allen got 16 pts and most of his points came from the remaining 6 mins of the game. Will Brown stated "We've never ever played a team with size like that and the combination of quickness as well." I would count this as a Win for the Great Danes they may have lost they contest but they obtained something greater than and win and that is team unity and strength which will only maker them a best America East Conference Champion contender.
The Great Danes are now 4-10 and currently ranked in 6th place in the AEC.