J.S. Carras/The Record

UAlbany gets its chance for a signature conference victory, early in the America East season.

The Great Danes have done what they've had to through the first four games, but with this being a home game and a team near the top of the standings, UAlbany has to take care of business.

The Great Danes are a perfect 6-0 at home and have been scoring the basketball in bunches since league play started.

Following Friday's practice, leading scorer Gerardo Suero talked at length about his continuing maturity as the defensive end of the floor.

“I’ve been playing hard on ‘D’ the whole week because I want to get better," he said. "I’m going to get used to it, so I won’t be tired.”

Suero was exhausted following Wednesday's game against New Hampshire, but says he feels better now.

Suero entered the day on Friday, the No. 4 scorer in the country and he's been to go-to guy for the Great Danes since his first game in a UAlbany jersey.

“There hasn’t been a player like him in this league, probably since I’ve been in the league, with the combination of size and slashing ability," said UAlbany coach Will Brown. "Jamar (Wilson) was tremendous, but this kid is just different. He’s just so big, long, quick, explosive, dynamic and he’s still learning.”

That's high praise from Brown because Wilson is the all-time leading scorer in school history and Brown has been coaching in the league for more than a decade.

Brown said Friday that he's been a little surprised in the consistency that Suero has provided this season, especially in his first year of Division I basketball. 

 “As much as he can be frustrating at times, he’s been a joy to work with and a joy to coach,” Brown said.

Here is the current standings in the America East.

School, Conference, Overall
Stony Brook, 4-0, 9-6
UAlbany, 3-1, 11-7
Vermont 3-1, 9-9
Maine, 2-1, 8-6
Boston U., 2-1, 6-11
Hartford, 1-2, 1-14
UMBC, 1-3, 2-14
New Hampshire, 0-3, 5-9
Binghamton, 0-4, 0-16