J.S. Carras - The Record

ALBANY - The mood in the UAlbany locker room at Patrick Gymnasium, in Burlington, Vt., last Saturday afternoon was one of shock.

The Great Danes were expecting a early-season battle for first place -- what they got was a massacre, a 70-45 loss, and they left with their pride diminished.

“Even Ohio State didn’t beat us like that," said senior point guard Mike Black. "It was shocking, heartbreaking. It was an eye-opener for us that day.”

UAlbany's next league game wasn't a must-win, it was only the third conference game, but that's how Monday's game against Binghamton felt.

“It was a must-win game in reality," said sophomore Sam Rowley, who scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, as the Great Danes bounced back with a 71-59 victory over the Bearcats.

In reality it wasn't a true must-win, but UAlbany needed to get back to its winning ways.

“We just needed to play," said coach Will Brown. "The way we played at Vermont wasn’t the way we’ve played all year long. We let them get in a comfort zone, we never got in any type of rhythm and we played on our heels the whole game. You live and you learn.”

In the midst of winter break, the team has been fully focused on basketball and they found out the best way to bounce back from a crushing defeat.

“The best way to move on from a loss is get a win the day or two days after," said Rowley. 

The Great Danes (2-1, 13-4) face another stiff challenge, when they host Maine (2-1, 7-9) on Saturday.