Jacob Iati talks about his decision to play next season and not accept the graduate assistant position at the University at Albany.

AP

Edwin Ubiles got a shot to play in some NBA games, but his 10-day contract expired on Monday.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Ubiles, who averaged 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in four games for the Wizards was headed back to the Dakota Wizards, of the D-League.

According to the Washington Post, Ubiles will be replaced on the Wizards roster by Cartier Martin. 

Ubiles averaged 13.0 minutes per game for Washington.

He became the first former Siena College player to appear in a NBA regular season game, when he played in the Wizards' 108-89 victory over New Jersey, on March 21.

Ubiles also scored a career-high 10 points in 18 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks.

Edwin Ubiles was part of a lot of Siena College history, when he suited up for the Saints.

On Wednesday, he made some more, when he became the first former Saints player to appear in an NBA game.

Ubiles signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards on Sunday and finished Wednesday's victory over New Jersey, with four points on 1-for-4 shooting, while also grabbing four rebounds.

Ubiles is third on the all-time Siena scoring list (1,939) and was a part of three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship teams and two victories in the NCAA tournament.

Ubiles was called up from the D-League where he was averaging 20.4 points per game for the Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), and was selected to participate in the league’s All-Star game (Feb. 25). He scored 41 points in a game vs. Iowa Feb. 27.

Mike McMahon/The Record

Kyle Downey just wrapped up his collegiate career at Siena College, but he will soon embark on a pro basketball career.

Downey tweeted early Friday that he will start his pro career.

"Going to get paid to play basketball.... A Dream come true"

Downey later confirmed that he will play for the Albany Legends, which open the 2012 season on March 30. 

AP

Edwin Ubiles has made a lot of splashes this season.

He got a tryout in Golden State, before the NBA season began, participated in the NBA D-League all-star game and now the former Siena Saints star has been called up to the Washington Wizards.

Ubiles was averaging 20.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists, while shooting 50 percent from the field for the Dakota Wizards.

Ubiles burst back onto the scene over the summer, winning a gold medal as a member of the Puerto Rico national team, at the Pan-American game. He had been recovering from a stress fracture in his right tibia.

Ubiles was part of three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships at Siena and helped the Saints win two games in the NCAA tournament.

UAlbany junior guard Mike Black talks about the team's 89-79 loss to Manhattan in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com tournament.

ALBANY - The University at Albany season has come to an end.

The Great Danes finish 19-15, after a 89-79 loss to Manhattan, in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com tournament.

George Beamon scored a season-high 34 points for the Jaspers, who advance to the weekend.

Jacob Iati scored a team-high 23 points for the Great Danes, in what likely is his last game.

I'll have more on the team as they look forward to next year on the blog and in the paper in the next few days.

ALBANY - UAlbany took its biggest lead, right before Manhattan closed the half on a huge run.

The Great Danes went up 28-20, on basket from Gerardo Suero, but the Jaspers finished the half on a 17-2 run to take their biggest lead into intermission.

George Beamon leads Manhattan with 13 points, while Jacob Iati has a game-high 14 for UAlbany.

Suero has been quiet, but he had seven points. He was slowed because of an early charge call on him. Mike Black had two charges called on him in the first half.

The Jaspers were much more physical and if they continue that trend, they will win this game.

ALBANY - The CollegeInsider.com tournament is about 30 minutes to tip from SEFCU Arena.

UAlbany will host Manhattan, as both teams look to finish the season on a strong note.

The Great Danes will play without Logan Aronhalt, who is back home, after undergoing knee surgery.

UAlbany is playing in its first postseason since the 2007 NCAA tournament. Manhattan is playing in its first postseason 2005 NIT.

ALBANY - The University at Albany women's basketball team is happy to still be playing.

The Great Danes earned a No. 14 seed, in the NCAA tournament selection show, on Monday evening.

"We are so excited," said head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. "I didn't know if we were going to be a 14 or a 15 seed, but we are in. We're happy and we're excited. I thought the team's reaction was great."

UAlbany will play the defending national champions, from Texas A&M.

The Great Danes have won 10 straight games and 17 of their last 19. 

Below is video, shot by our own Mike Cioffi, who will have a story in Tuesday's paper about the pairing. 

Tonight is a chance to get started on your brackets.

At the Schenectady Jewish Community Center, there will be a Bracketology 101, which is free and open to the public. 

Fox's Rich Becker, CBS's Doug Sherman, the Times Union's Pete Iorizzo, former Siena coach Mike Deane and myself will participate, along with former Siena assistant coach Adam Chaskin.

Below is all the info. 

The University at Albany women's basketball team is headed to the NCAA tournament, after defeating UMBC 69-61 in the America East championship game.

The Great Danes will gather on Monday, to find out where they will play in the program's first trip to the big dance.

Here is the story from our paper.

J.S. Carras/The Record

LOUDONVILLE - Surprising news out of Siena College, on Thursday, as the school announced that they are moving in a new direction and Gina Castelli will not be the head coach next season.

Castelli spent 22 seasons in Loudonville and won more than 300 games for the Saints.

She took the school to one NCAA tournament appearance and three WNIT appearances.

Athletic Director John D'Argenio said it was a difficult decision, especially because the two had worked together for more than 20 years.

“It makes coming to this decision very difficult,” he said.

The school will begin looking for a replacement.

Here are links for today's stories.

Anosike: Future is bright for Siena

Season might not be over for Great Danes

Here are highlights of UAlbany's semifinal matchup against Stony Brook. At about the 3:30 mark, the last play is showed and replayed a number of times.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Siena's resilient team met its match on Sunday evening.

Loyola knocked off the Saints for the third time this season and punched its ticket to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship, with a 70-60 victory, at MassMutual Center.

The Greyhounds (23-8) will face Fairfield (19-13), which upset Iona, earlier in the day, on Monday evening, for a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Loyola knocked down seven 3-pointers, five of which came in the second half, as they pulled away.

Loyola was led by Erik Etherly, who scored a game-high 21 points and Shane Walker and Robert Olson each chipped in 12.

The Saints (14-17) shorthanded all season, played only six players, but were still a tough out. 

Kyle Downey led the way for Siena, scoring 17 points, while Owen Wignot added 16.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - It was a pretty even first half, by all accounts.

Neither Siena or Loyola played its best, but the game was back and forth throughout the first half.

The Saints started slowly, falling behind 4-0, but rattled off 11 points jump back into it.

The Greyhounds turned things around, got the lead and held it for the last few minutes of the half.

Owen Wignot leads Siena with seven points, while Shane Walker has seven points for the Greyhounds and Erik Etherly added six. 

One team is just 20 minutes from advancing to Monday's championship game, against Fairfield. The Stags upset Iona, 85-75, getting 26 points and 12 rebounds from All-MAAC selection Rakim Sanders.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University at Albany will host the America East women's basketball championship game.

The Great Danes (22-9) defeated Binghamton 58-50, at the University of Hartford's Chase Arena, on Sunday, to punch a spot in the title game. It will be the first time UAlbany has ever played in the championship game, in program history.

UAlbany will host No. 5 seed University of Maryland-Baltimore County (18-14), which upset No. 1 Boston University, earlier on Sunday. The America East championship game will be played at SEFCU Arena, on Saturday, March 10, at 8 p.m.

Junior Ebone Henry led the way for the Great Danes, scoring a game-high 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Linsey Lowrie chipped in 11 points for UAlbany.

Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson is now 38-23 in two seasons as the Great Danes head coach.

If the University at Albany women's basketball team can defeat Binghamton in the America East semifinals, they will host the America East championship game, next weekend, at SEFCU Arena.

That's because UMBC dropped No. 1 seed Boston University, in the day's first semifinal, in West Hartford, Conn.

The Great Danes have never played in an America East championship game.

Here is the final play of regulation, when Kidani Brutus' short jumper rolls around and comes off the rim.



Here is freshman Rob Poole talking about the victory.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Well, we've almost seen it all in the first half of this Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference quarterfinal.

There was nearly a brawl, Evan Hymes came off the bench, in hero-like fashion and there have been 12 3-pointer, most from Manhattan.

Thanks to big halves from Brandon Walters and Rob Poole, who started in place of Hymes, the Saints hold a narrow lead. Walters has 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks, while Poole Poole has a team-high 12 points.

Siena shot 55.6 percent (15-27) from the floor in the first half. 

George Beamon leads the Jaspers with 15 points and he's 5-for-5 from downtown.

OD Anosike and Torgrim Sommerfeldt were both assessed technical fouls, with six minutes to play and Anosike spent the final six minutes on the bench, with three fouls. 

Manhattan coach Steve Masiello came all the way out onto the court to rein in his guys, as words were exchanged and it almost spilled over.

Junior Gerardo Suero talks about UAlbany's 63-45 victory over New Hampshire, in the America East quarterfinals.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University at Albany came out and did what it had to do on Saturday afternoon.

The Great Danes got a game-high 24 points from Gerardo Suero and advanced into the America East Conference semifinals, with a 63-45 victory over New Hampshire.

UAlbany (19-13) takes on Stony Brook (21-8), on Sunday, in an America East semifinal matchup, at 5 p.m., on Sunday.

Mike Black added 11 points and nine rebounds, while Jacob Iati knocked down three 3-pointers and was a presence on defense.

The Wildcats (13-16) were led by Patrick Konan, who scored 12 points, while Alvin Abreu scored just eight.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - UAlbany didn't play its best half of the season, but they lead by nine, heading into intermission.

UAlbany's Gerardo Suero has 15 points to lead all scorers.

It was back and forth, until the Great Danes went on a 10-0 run to take a 26-16 lead.

Jacob Iati has hit a couple of 3-pointer and has six points in the first half. Logan Aronhalt and Luke Devlin have both played and contributed some, but not as much as if they were healthy.

Patrick Konan leads the Wildcats with five points, while leading scorer Alvin Abreu has struggled, going 0-for-6 from the field and has just two poiunts.

UAlbany has a huge 29-14 advantage on the glass, which includes 11 offensive rebounds.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Logan Aronhalt and Luke Devlin won't start, but they are suited up and ready to go, from the looks.

The rest of the Great Danes also seem to be ready to go, as they look to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2009.

No. 1 seed Stony Brook held of Binghamton in the day's first quarterfinal, so the winner of UAlbany and New Hampshire, will play the Seawolves tomorrow afternoon.

Follow along here on the blog and on twitter @AndrewSantillo for updates throughout the game.

Siena coach Gina Castelli talks about her team's 63-48 loss to Fairfield in the MAAC semifinals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team ran out of gas on Saturday morning.

Fairfield went on a big run to end the game and advance to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game, with a 63-48 victory, at the MassMutual Center.

The Stags (24-7) scored 16 of the last 20 points in the game, turning a 3-point lead, into a 15-point victory.

The Saints (12-17) had a tough offensive second half, making just seven baskets and scoring only 18 points.

Fairfield went on the big run, without their start player. Taryn Johnson picked up her third and fourth fouls, in the first three minutes of the second half and was anchored to the bench.

In her absence, Desiree Pina (20 points) and Katelyn Linney (14 points) stepped up big.

Lily Grenci finished with a game-high 21 points for the Saints, who will see Maja Gerlyng and Cristina Centeno graduate.

Fairfield will face either Marist or Niagara, in the championship game, at noon, on Monday. 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Lily Grenci can't be stopped so far and the junior has Siena 20 minutes from the championship game.

Grenci has a game-high 14 points and is 6-for-12 from the field, as the Saints have a 1-point lead at intermission.

The last time Siena played in a championship game was in 2003, but they one half away from punching their ticket.

Fairfield is led by Katelyn Linney, who has 11 points and Taryn Johnson, who added nine points and seven rebounds.

The Stags are 22-0, when leading at the half, and just 1-7, when they trail.

Siena lost to Fairfield both times during the regular season, but the Saints are hoping the third time is the charm.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University at Albany got big games from its freshmen and because of that, they are headed to the America East Conference semifinals.

Freshman Sarah Royals scored a career-high 21 points and fellow frosh Megan Craig added nine points, five rebounds and two blocks in the 74-61 victory.

The Great Danes (21-9) will play the winner of Hartford/Binghamton, in a semifinal matchup, at 1:30 p.m., on Sunday.

UAlbany struggled to put away Vermont (10-20), but they scored the game's final 11 points, all from the free throw line to pull away down the stretch. 

Niki Taylor scored a career-high 22 points for the Catamounts.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University at Albany didn't start out the game, playing like the No. 2 seed.

Vermont looked good early, jumping out to a 18-12 lead.

The Great Danes have bounced back though, behind the play junior Lindsay Lowrie, who has 14 points and Julie Forster, who added five points and eight rebounds.

The Catamounts were led by Niki Taylor, who had 14 points in the first half.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Below are the America East Conference men's basketball awards.


First Team
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown/High School/Previous School
*Gerardo Suero  Jr.  G  Albany  Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Our Savior New American
*Darryl Partin Sr.  G  Boston University  Seattle, Wash./Charis Prep/La Salle
Tommy Brenton  Jr.  F  Stony Brook  Columbia, Md./River Hill/Hargrave
Bryan Dougher Sr.  G Stony Brook  Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Matt Glass  Sr.  F  Vermont Underhill Center, Vt./Mt. Mansfi eld/UMass
Scond Team
Mike Black Jr.  G Albany  Chicago, Ill./Oak Park Fenwick
D.J. Irving  So.  G  Boston University  Chester, Pa./Archbishop Carroll
Gerald McLemore  Sr.  G  Maine  San Diego, Calif./Worcester Academy
Chase Plummer  So.  F  UMBC  Plainfi eld, N.J./St. Patrick
Alvin Abreu Sr.  G  New Hampshire  Lynn, Mass./Boys to Men Academy (Ill.)
Third Team
Logan Aronhalt Jr. G  Albany  Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville
Andres Torres  Sr.  G  Hartford  Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio
Alasdair Fraser  So.  F  Maine  Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk Clark Eriksson Fury
Dallis Joyner  Sr.  F  Stony Brook  Norfolk, Va./Granby
Brian Voelkel  So.  F  Vermont  Pleasantville, N.Y./Iona Prep
All-Rookie
Ben Dickinson  Fr.  F  Binghamton  Alexandria, Va./Gonzaga (D.C.)
Mark Nwakamma  Fr.  F  Hartford  Leander, Texas/Leander
Nate Sikma  Fr.  F  Hartford  Bellvue, Wash/Bellvue
*Justin Edwards  Fr. G Maine  Whitby, Ontario/Anderson CVI
*Four McGlynn  Fr. G Vermont  York, Pa./Dallastown
All-Defensive
*Patrick Hazel Sr.  F  Boston University  Jamaica, N.Y./Blair Academy (N.J.)/Marquette
Mike Allison Jr.  F  Maine  Lynden, Ontario/National Elite Development Acad.
Chandler Rhoads  Jr.  G  New Hampshire  Berryville, Va./Air Force Prep
Tommy Brenton Jr.  F  Stony Brook  Columbia, Md./River Hill/Hargrave
Brian Voelkel  So.  F  Vermont  Pleasantville, N.Y./Iona Prep
All-Academic Team
Name  Yr.  School  Major   GPA  Hometown/High School
*Logan Aronhalt Jr.   Albany  human biology   3.78  Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville
Andrew Rogers Sr.   Maine  kinesiology/PE  3.86  Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan
Brian Benson Sr.   New Hampshire kinesiology/pedagogy  3.48  Rochester, N.Y./Greece-Athena
Luke Apfeld  So.  Vermont  English   3.82  Wolfeboro, N.H./Brewster Academy
Sandro Carissimo  So.  Vermont  business   3.42  Sleepy Hollow, N.Y./Iona Prep
Rookie of the Year
Four McGlynn, Vermont
Defensive Player of the Year
Tommy Brenton, Stony Brook
Kevin Roberson Player of the Year
Darryl Partin, Boston University
Coach of the Year
Steve Pikiell, Stony Brook

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Through the magic of driving south, I'm now in Connecticut, on the campus of the University of Hartford.

UAlbany women's team is taking on Vermont, in an America East Conference quarterfinal matchup.

Follow along here and on twitter @AndrewSantillo

The men's awards were given out and Gerardo Suero was named to the first team, while Mike Black (2nd) and Logan Aronhalt (3rd) were also honored for the Great Danes.

Boston University's Darryl Partin was named the America East Player of the Year, and Steve Pikiell earned coach of the year honors.

Video of the final play of Siena's 34-33 quarterfinal victory over Manhattan.



Junior Lily Grenci talks abuout the victory. Siena plays Fairfield, at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday morning.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - For the third straight season, Siena wins the lowest scoring MAAC tournament game, earning a 34-33 upset victory over Manhattan.

The Saints play No. 2 seed Fairfield, at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday morning.

Siena didn't register a field goal in the final 13:36, when senior Maja Gerlyng knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Saints up 32-21.

The Jaspers scored the game's final 12 points, but Maggie Blair's 3-point attempt came up short and the clock ran out.

Siena was led by Clara Sole Anglada, who scored a game-high 11 points and Kanika Cummings added eight points. All-MAAC first team selection Lily Grenci finished with six points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Siena defeated Rider 45-25, in a first round game, in 2010. The Saints then defeated Fairfield 36-33, last season, in the quarterfinals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The first half wasn't the greatest played, but I'm sure Gina Castelli won't mind because her team is up by seven points. 

Kanika Cummings led the way, with eight points off the bench for Siena. Clara Sole Anglada added seven.

Manhattan was led by Lindsey Loutsenhizer, who has six points at the break. The Jaspers shot just 26 percent (6-23) from the field. 

There was a total of 25 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

The two teams went without a field goal for 8:58, before Lily Grenci's layup, which made it 20-11, with 2:28 to play.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Just about 10 minutes to tip for Siena's women's squad, as they take on Manhattan, in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Confefence quarterfinals.

Follow along here and on twitter @AndrewSantillo for all of the updates.

Iona's Scott Machado and Marist's Corielle Yarde have been named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's men's and women's Players of the Year, respectively.

Machado's victory ends a three-year Siena run. Kenny Hasbrouck, Alex Franklin and Ryan Rossiter were the last three award winners.

Siena's OD Anosike and Lily Grenci were candidates for the awards, after being named All-MAAC first team on Monday.

Loyola (Md).'s Jimmy Patsos and Marist's Brian Giorgis were named the men's and women's Coach of the Year respectively.

Niagara's Juan'ya Green was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year, an award that Siena's Evan Hymes was in the running for.

In my mind, Hymes was more valuable, but Green's offensive numbers were better. 

The University at Albany women's basketball team has turned things around under coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. 

In just two seasons, Coach Abe has led the Great Danes to the No. 2 seed in the America East Conference and a 20-win season, the program's first at the Division I level.

On Thursday, Coach Abrahamson-Henderson was named America East Coach of the Year.

Junior guard/forward Ebone Henry was named to the all-conference first team, in addition to repeating as the league's defensive player of the year.

Julie Forster was named to the second team. Forster also joined Henry on the all-defense team. Forster, who carries 3.97 GPA, was also named to the all-academic team.

Here is a link to the conference's release.

UAlbany will take on No. 7 Vermont, in Friday's third quarterfinal, at 6 p.m., at the University of Hartford.

The men's awards will be given out on Friday evening.