Men’s Basketball Visits Binghamton on Wednesday Night in Final Regular Season Stretch
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ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany men’s basketball (13-13, 7-6 AE) plays the first of its final three regular season games at Binghamton (6-19, 3-9 AE) on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 from the Events Center in Vestal, N.Y.
UAlbany emerged from a two-game losing skid to down Maine 74-63 at SEFCU Arena on Saturday afternoon. Peter Hooley scored 21 points for the second consecutive game and sixth time this season in the win, and also dished out five assists. DJ Evans scored 15 points or more for the first time since tallying 22 at New Hampshire on Jan. 23. The senior also had five assists. John Puk led the team with seven rebounds.
The Great Danes are now 11-0 this season when scoring 70 points or more.
Will Brown and his coaching staff also wore sweatsuits against the Black Bears in support of Coaches Cure Cystic Fibrosis. The Great Danes will continue the trend against the Bearcats.
LAST WE MET
Binghamton’s leading scorer Jordan Reed did not make the trip to SEFCU Arena on Jan. 20, and UAlbany won 66-60. Peter Hooley had 17 points to lead all scorers, while freshman Dallas Ennema scored a season-high 12 points with seven rebounds against the Bearcats. Senior center John Puk had nine points and seven rebounds in the win.
The Great Danes ceded an America East game-high 22 free throws to the Bearcats on 23 personal fouls. Meanwhile Will Brown’s squad went a league-game low 55.6% (15-27) from the free throw line.
MODELS OF CONSISTENCY
Gary Johnson has scored at least 10 points in his last 10 games. The senior forward also matched his career high in rebounds against UMBC with seven.
Senior center John Puk has recorded at least one block in 10 of his last 12 games, including a career-high five against UMBC on Jan. 8. Puk also had four blocks at UMBC on Feb. 12, totaling nine against the Retrievers this season.
Dallas Ennema has made at least one three-point field goal in seven of his last eight games. The freshman had three threes against Maine on Feb. 15 for nine points.
COACHES CURE CYSTIC FIBROSIS
UAlbany beat Maine 74-63 on Saturday afternoon, but the Great Danes also helped the Coaches Cure Cystic Fibrosis cause with a win of its own.
With the help of a silent auction, 50/50 Raffle, the SEFCU Money Machine and matching donations, as well as individual contributions from fans, UAlbany men’s basketball helped generate nearly $ 5,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Northeastern New York Chapter.
The event, run by UAlbany alumni Brian Fessler and Casey Crandall, featured Bruce Springsteen tickets, a Saratoga Raceway package, a weekend at the Dippikill Wilderness Retreat and autographed merchandise from UAlbany’s all-time leading scorer, Jamar Wilson at the silent auction.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
• The series between UAlbany and Binghamton is tied 13-13 in the America East era. The Great Danes have won seven-straight in the series leading up to their 27th meeting in the league.
• After losing nine of their first 10 America East games, the Bearcats have gotten back on track with wins against Maine (73-58) and at New Hampshire (72-71 OT).
• Binghamton’s win at New Hampshire in overtime was the team’s first on the road in conference and third overall.
• Marlon Beck II was chosen as the league’s Rookie of the Week following his heroic efforts in the team’s win over New Hampshire. The freshman hit three free throws with 4.6 seconds to go to force the game into overtime. He also scored five points in the overtime period to seal the win. Beck has been named the America East Rookie of the Week three times this season, and is averaging 3.4 assists per game in league play.
• Three Bearcats are averaging double-figures in conference play, including Jordan Reed (13.0 ppg), Yosef Yacob (11.8 ppg) and Nick Madray (10.5 ppg). Reed is also averaging 7.7 rebounds per game against league opponents.
