University at Albany guard Jacob Iati talks about the upcoming rivalry game against Siena College.

The America East Conference has decided Albany is a great place for its basketball tournament.

Already scheduled to play the postseason tournament at UAlbany's SEFCU Arena in 2013, the conference announced Thursday that they will host the tournament there in 2014, as well.

"Based on early ticket sales, the response from sponsors and potential media partners, as well as the growing excitement for the 2013 championship, it was an easy decision yesterday for our membership to commit to returning to Albany for our 2014 championship," said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen.

Both the men's and women's tournaments have never been simultaniously held in Albany. The last time the men's tournament was there, was in 2009.

"We are ecstatic that the University at Albany will be hosting this championship in both 2013 and 2014," said UAlbany Vice President & Director of Athletics Lee McElroy. "The excitement that is building on our campus, in the Capital Region and in other markets across America East's footprint for the 2013 championship motivated the membership to act on this now and we are thrilled they have."

ALBANY - Another tough loss for the Siena.

Chaz Williams' bank-shot layup with 3.3 seconds to play gave UMass a 64-63 victory on Wednesday evening.

“(Coach Derek Kellogg) left the game in my hands and I had to go make a play,” said Williams, who also burned the Saints last year, scoring 22 points in an 82-78 win.

The loss is the second 1-point defeat at home for Siena (2-5) and the Saints have lost three in a row.

Siena had a 17-point lead in the first half, but watched it evaporate as UMass continued with their pressure defense throughout the game.

O.D. Anosike posted his seventh consecutive double-double, with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Evan Hymes added 15 points.

Williams finished with a game-high 23 points, while Terrell Vinson added 17 for the Minutemen (3-2).

Siena did announce that sophomore Rakeem Brookins will miss at least one month after reaggravating a back injury, in the game against Maine.

The Saints return to the floor on Saturday, when they host UAlbany, for possession of the Albany Cup.

Below Anosike talks about the loss.

ALBANY - Siena played likely the best half of the season in the first half against UMass.

The Saints made seven 3-pointers, shooting 7-11 (63.6%) from long distance. Evan Hymes has nine points and Rob Poole added eight.

Chaz Williams leads the Minutemen with nine points. He scored his 1,000th career point on a 3-pointer late in the half.

O.D. Anosike finished the half with four points and six rebounds.

Can Siena keep it up in the second half?

Here is a link to the game preview that ran in Wednesday's paper.

For a refresher, here is a link to the game story from last year's 82-78 UMass victory, in Springfield, Mass. 

Here are some other links to stories about the game, coming from the UMass perspective.

UMass men's basketball returns to action against Siena - Daily Hampshire Gazette

UMass basketball hopes to have cured its problems over 10-day break - masslive.com

Well-rested Minutemen head to Siena - The Daily Collegian

Siena senior O.D. Anosike talks about the upcoming game against UMass, and insists that there is no panic amongst the team, despite the 2-4 start.

University at Albany senior guard Mike Black fought through a stomach ache to leave Wagner feeling sick on Monday night.

Black scored a team-high 19 points, 16 of which came in the second half and 14 of which came in the game's final 11 minutes, as the Great Danes improved to 5-2, with a 66-63 victory over the Seahawks.

Here is a link to the game story. 

UAlbany now has the rest of the week off, until Saturday's big matchup against Siena.

J.S. Carras/The Record

The University at Albany men's basketball team defeated Wagner, 66-63, on Monday evening.

Below is the final play of the game, as Seahawks guard Eric Fanning attempts a game-tying 3-pointers.



Below is video of redshirt freshman Peter Hooley talking about the win.

ALBANY - Will Brown didn't say much about his team's next opponent Monday night.

The University at Albany men's basketball coach didn't talk at length about Siena College, but he did stick up for its coach, Mitch Buonaguro.

“Mitch is a good guy," said Brown, following his team's 66-63 victory over Wagner, on Monday. "He's a good coach and I think they'll be just fine.”

Coaches tend to stick together. They know what it's like when things are going well and conversely, they know how tough things can be when the road is rocky. 

“If it was that easy, everybody would be winning championships," Brown said. "It's a tough business. It's one that we signed up for.”

When asked about the heat Buonaguro is taking from fans, after a slow start, Brown came to his defense. 

“That's society that we live in today," Brown said. "People have nothing better to do than anonymously comment on a message board. And that's fine, it comes with the territory.”

Brown remembers back to the 2006 Rose Bowl, when Texas defeated USC. He was watching the game at a local restaurant, as fans called for Pete Carroll's head. Carroll's team had won the national championship the past two years, but wasn't performing on this day.

“It's a what have you done for me lately business,” said Brown.

In his 12 seasons at UAlbany, Brown has taken his fair share of criticism when things have gone rough for him.

“Social media nowadays and blog and forums, I think they do more harm than good,” he said.

Siena (2-4) and UAlbany (5-2)  meet on Saturday in a rivalry game and for possession of the Albany Cup. 

Here is a link to today's story about UAlbany's game against Wagner. It's the Great Danes' first home game since the season-opener, on Nov. 9, against Duquesne.

It talks about Jacob Iati and his great start to the year. Iati is averaging double-digits and has been deadly from beyond the arc, shooting 51 percent for the year.

University at Albany senior point guard Mike Black talks about Monday's upcoming home game against Wagner.

The Siena men's basketball team will participate in the 2013 Old Spice Classic.

The games, held Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28-Dec. 1), are at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.

In addition to the Saints, the 8-team field includes Butler, LSU, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Saint Joseph's and Washington State.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will serve as the event's sponsoring conference for the eighth straight year. 

Siena last competed in the Old Spice in 2008. The Saints lost to Tennessee, Wichita State and Oklahoma State, but did go on to win their second straight MAAC title and trip to the NCAA tournament.

Also announced over the Thanksgiving holiday is that the Siena game against St. Bonaventure, on Tuesday, Dec. 4, will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network.  The game time has also been moved and now will be a 9 p.m. tip from the Reilly Center, in Olean.

The game is a battle for the Franciscan Cup, which the Bonnies hold possession of.

SAN DIEGO — The Siena men’s basketball team played well on Friday, but the Saints let a late lead slip away.

With less than two minutes to play, Cal State Northridge scored five points in a 27-second span, to take the lead for good and hold on for a 68-64 victory,

The Saints (1-2) continue action in the NUCDF Basketball Challenge tonight, when they take on Northern Kentucky, at 10:30 p.m., at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of the University of San Diego.

Siena went up 58-57, with 3:07 remaining, when sophomore guard Evan Hymes hit two free throws.

Cal State Northridge (4-0) responded, getting a huge 3-pointer from Josh Greene, to put them up for good. That was Greene’s only trey of the game, on eight attempts. 

Twenty seconds later, Brandon Perry made one free throw and following the missed second attempt, Stephan Hicks scored, to put the Matadors up 63-58.

The Saints closed to within two twice, but Greene hit four free throws late to ice the game for Cal State Northridge.

O.D. Anosike and Rob Poole each scored 19 points for Siena. Poole hit five treys on the way to a career-high effort, while Anosike registered his 31st career double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds.

Anosike single-handedly erased a three-point halftime deficit, scoring the first 15 Saints points of the second half. Anosike was outscoring the entire Matadors team, 15-11, as Siena took a 46-45 lead.

The Saints shot much better than their first two games of the year. Siena made eight 3-pointers in the first half and shot 43 percent (22-51) for the game.

Hymes finished with 14 points and five assists, but committed a career-high 11 turnovers. Imoh Silas added four points and eight rebounds for the Saints. 

Cal State Northridge was led by Hicks, who scored a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Stephen Maxwell added 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Below is some postgame reaction, courtesy of the Siena Athletic Department.

J.S. Carras/The Record

The Siena men's basketball team is headed out west, for three games in three days. 

Here is a link to the story I wrote for Friday's paper.

Here is a list of the schedule for the games. The times listed are Eastern.

2012 NUCDF TOURNAMENT

FRIDAY

Siena vs. Cal-State Northridge    7 p.m.
Tulsa vs. San Diego    10 p.m.

SATURDAY

Tulsa vs. Cal-State Northridge    8 p.m.
Northern Kentucky vs. Siena     10:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

Siena vs. San Diego    4 p.m.
Cal-State Northridge vs. Northern Kentucky     7 p.m.

AP

The University at Albany men's basketball team made some national noise on Tuesday evening, as they defeated Washington, 63-62.

“There’s not too many wins that are better than that," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, once the team finally arrived home, on Wednesday afternoon. 

Here is a link to the story from the Associated Press.

Here is a link to a game story from the Seattle Times. Here is a link to a column from the Seattle Times.

The Great Danes picked up their first victory over a BCS school in what some headlines have referred to as the "Seattle Stunner."

This is no doubt the best non-conference victory in the program's history and some could argue that it is the best victory ever, knocking off the defending Pac-12 champs, on their home floor. 

AP

Below Coach Brown talks about the upset.



Below senior point guard Mike Black talks about the upset over Washington.

The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team is in the Division II Sweet 16, for the fifth consecutive season.

The defending champs are just two wins away from advancing to their fifth straight Final Four.

Here is a link to my story on the team, which next takes on Dowling College, on Friday, in West Chester, Pa.

J.S. Carras/The Record

SEATTLE — Mike Black’s layup, in the waning moments Tuesday evening, clinched the biggest non-conference victory in the history of the University at Albany men’s basketball program.

AP

Black’s basket, with four seconds remaining, helped the Great Danes down defending Pac-12 champion Washington, 63-62, at Alaska Airlines Arena.

“These guys played so hard,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown. “I can’t tell you how proud I am.”

The Great Danes (2-1) trailed by one, with 12 seconds left, when Brown called timeout and set up the final play.

Black, who finished with a game-high 22 points, drove and scored to give UAlbany its first victory over a BCS school.

Jacob Iati also had a huge game for the Great Danes, finished with 20 points and six 3-pointers

“He’s gutty,” Brown said. “He’s doing a great job for us.”

The Huskies (1-1) were led by Abdul Gaddy, who finished with 16 points. Gaddy had a chance to win the game for Washington, but his desperation 3-pointer was off the mark.

UAlbany improves to 2-2 against current members of the Pac-12, but its previous victory over Utah, came in 2006, when the school was part of the Mountain West Conference. The Great Danes are now 1-27 against BCS schools. 

“It’s awesome,” Brown said. “It’s a real good effort by our guys.”

The Great Danes return home tomorrow and head to Mohegan Sun this weekend for two games. UAlbany takes on Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, at 2:30 p.m. 

AP

The University at Albany moved back into my Top 25, for The Sports Network.

It wasn't really based on what the Great Danes did, although their victory against Duquesne was a big one. It was more about the teams at the bottom of poll that lost and Colgate which beat Lehigh. Remember, UAlbany defeated Colgate, pretty convincingly, earlier this year.

While the Great Danes moved back onto my ballot, their shot at a at-large bid was hurt by the losses of Lehigh and Stony Brook. UAlbany will likely need to win and have Wagner lose to earn the Northeast Conference's automatic bid. 

Here is a link to the Top 25 poll.

Below is my ballot. The number in the (xx) is where the team is actually located in the poll.

1. North Dakota State
2. Montana State
3. Sam Houston State
4. Old Dominion
5. Eastern Washington
6. Appalachian State (8)
7. Georgia Southern (6)
8. New Hampshire (7)
9. Lehigh  (14)
10. Stony Brook (12)
11. Central Arkansas (10)
12. Illinois State (11)
13. Wofford (9)
14. Towson  (19)
15. Richmond (20)
16. Indiana State (18)
17. Villanova (16)
18. James Madison (13)
19. Eastern Kentucky (22)
20. Cal Poly (17)
21. South Dakota State
22. Northern Arizona (15)
23. Tennessee State
24. Eastern Illinois  (25)
25. UAlbany (NR)

Team ranked, but not on my ballot
24. Bethune-Cookman

Others receiving votes: Colgate 213, Samford 200, UAlbany 136, Sacramento State 90, UT Martin 75, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 52, Harvard 43, Youngstown State 40, Wagner 29, McNeese State 28, Northern Iowa 22, Lilberty 21, The Citadel 20, Delaware 17, Southern Utah 16, Penn 15, Southern Illinois 13, Chattanooga 7, Coastal Carolina 3, Alabama A&M 3, Alabama State 2, Drake 2, North Carolina A&T 2, San Diego 1, Jacksonville 1

AP

The University at Albany men's basketball team gave it their all on Sunday, but fell to No. 4 Ohio State.

Here is a link to the AP story. 

The Great Danes (1-1) had a lead in the first half, but then the Buckeyes turned it on, getting 20 points from Aaron Craft.  Three other players were in double figures for Ohio State.

Mike Black scored 20 points, Jacob Iati added 13 and UAlbany actually was even on the glass, 32-32.

Siena was also on the road on Sunday. The Saints (1-1) had to work overtime to pick up their first victory of the year, against Navy.

O.D. Anosike led the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds. That's his second double-double of the year. 

Here is a link to our writeup, in Monday's paper.

Jeff Couch/The Record

ALBANY — Tanner Gibson remembers watching games at Value City Arena, while he was growing up.

The Zanesville, Ohio native vividly recalls watching Michael Redd and Ohio State play in the late 1990’s.

Gibson and the rest of the University at Albany men’s basketball team head into meet the No. 4 Buckeyes, this afternoon, at 2 p.m. The game can be seen on the BIG TEN network online and will be rebroadcast on Monday evening on television.

“It’s definitely exciting to go back and see the family,” said the sophomore guard. “Ohio State is always a great atmosphere.”

Unfortunately Gibson, who has been dealing with a foot injury, won’t be suited up for the Great Danes (1-0). He expects some friends and family to make the 50-minute drive and Gibson intends on passing out some Purple & Gold to mix in amongst all the Scarlet & Gray in the 18-809 seat arena.

Ohio State will be making its season debut, after Friday’s game against Marquette, on the USS Yorktown, was canceled.

This is part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. UAlbany continues on to play Washington, on Tuesday and next weekend plays two games at Mohegan Sun, in Connecticut.

“Any time you’re program is affiliated with the Basketball Hall of Fame, it’s special,” said Great Danes coach Will Brown.

Growing up in Indiana and having lots of family from Michigan, senior Blake Metcalf was never a big fan of Ohio State. Metcalf is looking forward to this game because he will have friends and family in attendance, from his hometown, Camby, Ind. 

“It’ll be real nice to get back to the Midwest and a lot of my friends and family can come to the game, so it does mean a lot to me,” he said.

Metcalf played AAU basketball growing up, with dominant Buckeyes big man Deshaun Thomas.  Thomas is one of the main reasons Ohio State is ranked so highly. The junior was one of six players named to the Associated Press preseason All-American team. Fellow junior Aaron Craft received votes for All-American consideration. 

This is the first meeting between these two schools, but the Buckeyes are 4-1 all-time against teams from the America East, losing once to Vermont.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta has never lost in 12 season-openers, in his head coaching career.    

UAlbany hasn’t been 2-0 to start the season since the 2006-07 season, when they last went to the NCAA tournament. This is the highest ranked opponent the Great Danes have faced since the 2006 NCAA tournament, when they met No. 2 Connecticut.

We are off and running for the college basketball season.

Below are links from stories that appeared in Saturday's paper. 

Free-throw shooting dooms Siena

Siena's first-year coach Ali Jaques wins debut

Troy High's Javion Ogunyemi says the winner is...Siena

UAlbany makes clutch plays down the stretch to win opener

Saint Rose coach Brian Beaury vows Knights will be better

Below senior O.D. Anosike talks about the team's 1-point loss to Vermont.



Below women's coach Ali Jaques and senior Lily Grenci talk about their 76-56 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson.

ALBANY - It didn't look good when Evan Hymes went down with 12 minutes to play in the season-opener loss to Vermont.

Hymes did come back out on to the floor and said after the game, he was just dealing with a bad cramp in his left calf.

“I should be fine," he said, sitting in the locker room.

Hymes did say that he got cramps last year, in the season-opener against Navy, but this was worse.

“It felt worse because when I tried to get up, I couldn't really move," he said. 

Hymes had to be taken off the floor on a stretcher, but returned with the game in its final stages. He said that he tried to stand up, but just couldn't.

“When they tried to get me up, it went to my foot and then to my thigh," Hymes said. 

He should be okay to play, when the Saints take on Navy, on Sunday.

ALBANY – Ali Jaques was almost speechless following her first victory as Siena women's basketball head coach.

“It's been a little bit of an emotional week,” she said, following the team's 76-56 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. “So it's nice to have this one over with and get out with the win.”
 

The Saints (1-0), who only surpassed 70 points five times last season, did so with ease, getting a game-high 19 points from senior Lily Grenci.

“It feels great to get one under the belt,” said Grenci, who also grabbed 12 rebounds.

Clara Sole Anglada added 14 points, while Kate Zarotney finished with 10 points.

“I'm really, really proud of our team tonight,” said Jaques.

Siena was picked seventh in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference preseason poll, which was released Friday evening.

“I don't care where they pick us,” Jaques said. “It just matters where we finish.”

The Saints extended to their largest lead, when Ciara Stewart made two free throws in the final minute, to give the team its final margin of victory.

J.S. Carras/The Record

TROY - On the opening day of college hoops season, the Siena men's basketball team already feels like winners.

Troy High standout Javion Ogunyemi has committed to play for the Saints and coach Mitch Buonaguro.

Ogunyemi chose Siena over James Madison, which is coached by former Siena player Matt Brady.

The 6-foot-8 Ogunyemi ended last year in the postseason, suffereing a gruesome ankle injury that cut his season short, as the Flying Horses still made it all the way to the Class AA championship game.
Ogunyemi averaged more than 12 points per game last season for Troy High.

The college basketball season officially begins tonight for many teams around the country.

The University at Albany plays host to Duquesne of the Atlantic-10, and new head coach Jim Ferry.

Here is a link to my season preview that ran in Friday's paper.

J.S. Carras/The Record

ALBANY - To say Tanner Gibson is frustrated to be back on the sideline with an injury, would be an understatement.

The University at Albany sophomore has a walking boot on his left foot, dealing with tissue damage and inflammation that may keep him out as long as a month.

“It’s going to be a process," he said on Wednesday.

Gibson said he thinks it could take as long as four weeks to be fully healthy and then another week or two of getting back in to shape, before he's 100 percent.

Gibson's injury actually came because of another injury. The Ohio native was wearing orthotics in his shoes, to correct a previous injury that occurred in late April.

“It’s definitely frustrating," he said.

Coach Will Brown said he hasn't given any thought to redshirting Gibson and hopes he will be fully back by conference play.

Gibson was even more upset that he won't be able to suit up on Sunday, when the Great Danes take on No. 4 Ohio State, in an arena he watched games as a kid.

“I wish I could play, but I’ll give it my all on the bench," he said.

The game is just two days away.

Check out my story on the annual Dutchman Shoes, one of the longest rivalries in college football and the longest in New York State.

Union and RPI meet for the 110th time, on Saturday.

The home team has won the past four meetings, including last year's 38-28 Dutchmen victory, at Frank Bailey Field.

Here's what the teams are playing for.

Mike McMahon/The Record

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute men's soccer team is headed to the big dance.

The Engineers (9-5-6) take on Christopher Newport, on Saturday evening, on the campus of Swathmore College (just outside of Philadelphia), in the Division III NCAA tournament.

Here is a link to my story, which ran in Thursday's paper. 

Here is the bracket.

Here is a link to the school's release, which has access to watching and listening to the game.

RPI Athletics

University at Albany junior Luke Devlin talks about the beginning of the season and the season-opener, against Duquesne, at home on Nov. 9.

The Siena men's basketball team kicks off the 2012-13 season on Friday, when they host Vermont.

Here are some stories from today's paper, previewing the year.

Siena suspends Brookins, Burdine for three games

Siena ready to elevate game to the top of the MAAC

Mike McMahon - The Record

LOUDONVILLE - This wasn't the news that coach Mitch Buonaguro wanted to be delivering three days prior to the season-opener against Vermont.

Buonaguro said that the team has suspended red-shirt sophomores Trenity Burdine and Rakeem Brookins for the first three games of the 2012-13 season.

Both players will miss Friday evening's opener and also miss Sunday's game at Navy and the first game at the NUCDF Basketball Challenge in San Diego.

"I appreciate that both Rakeem and Trenity have taken responsibility for their actions and have responded in a positive way," said Siena Director of Athletics John D'Argenio.

Both Burdine and Brookins were sidelined last year due to injury and this will delay their return to the lineup a little longer. 

"I'm disappointed in my actions, and fully support the department's decision," Brookins said. "I'm looking forward to a great season, and can't wait to get back on the court and help my teammates compete for a MAAC Championship."

Burdine saw action in all 31 games as a freshman in the 2010-11 season, including three starts for the Saints.

"This obviously isn't the way I wanted to being the year, but I understand and agree with the decision that was made," he said.

The University at Albany dropped its first Northeast Conference game on Saturday and in the process, dropped out of first place and dropped out of The Sports Network Top 25 (and my ballot).

Below is my ballot, with a new No. 1, as Georgia Southern lost. Here is a link to the actual poll.

The number in the (xx) is where the team is in the actual poll.

1. Montana State (2)
2. North Dakota State (1)
3. Lehigh (8)
4. Stony Brook (6)
5. Sam Houston State (3)
6. Old Dominion (4)
7. Eastern Washington (5)
8. Appalachian State (12)
9. Georgia Southern  (7)
10. New Hampshire
11. James Madison (9)
12. Northern Arizona (11)
13. Central Arkansas (14)
14. Illinois State (15)
15. Wofford (13)
16. Towson  (17)
17. Richmond (20)
18. Indiana State
19. Harvard (25)
20. South Dakota State (16)
21. Eastern Kentucky (22)
22. Cal Poly (19)
23. Villanova  (21)
24. UT-Martin  (23)
25. Delaware (NR)

Ranked, but not on my ballot
24. Tennessee State

Others receiving votes: Bethune-Cookman 290, Eastern Illinois 256, Samford 212, UALBANY 192, Delaware 149, McNeese State 106, Sacramento State 96, Youngstown State 51, Wagner 47, Chattanooga 42, Alabama A&M 37, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 34, Colgate 28, The Citadel 27, Southern Illinois 21, Northern Iowa 7, Jacksonville State 2, North Carolina Central 2, Butler 1

While I was out of town this weekend, at a wedding, there was a lot going on for the first weekend of November.

The UAlbany football team got hammed, losing 30-0 to Wagner on Saturday. The loss makes it very difficult for the Great Danes to win the Northeast Conference and earn the bid to the NCAA tournament. Here is a link to the story from Brien Bouyea.

The loss should also knock UAlbany out of the Top 25. I just cast my ballot for The Sports Network poll and didn't include the Great Danes, who I previously had at No. 16.

This is a big week. College basketball starts with UAlbany and Siena playing home games on Friday evening. Also, Saturday is the big Union/RPI football game, for bragging rights and possession of the Dutchman's Shoes.

Make sure to check back here many times this week as there will be plenty of updates.

Here is a link to the story in Thursday's paper, previewing the men's and women's basketball teams at the University at Albany.

Both teams begin the year next Friday, Nov. 9, in a doubleheader at SEFCU Arena.

Mike McMahon - The Record