Below, Maine's Justin Edwards misses two shots in the final minutes, as UAlbany clings to a 50-49 lead.



UAlbany sophomore Sam Rowley talks about the victory which sends the Great Danes to the semifinals, where they will meet Stony Brook, at 7 p.m., on Sunday.

ALBANY - Somehow the University at Albany pulled out a victory on Saturday evening.

The Great Danes trailed for the first 37 minutes, but Sam Rowley scored his team's final eight points to lead them to a 50-49 victory over Maine.

UAlbany now faces Stony Brook in the America East semifinals, on Sunday, at 7 p.m.

ALBANY - In a bit of a shocker, Maine played a very good first half on UAlbany's home floor.

The Black Bears got 10 points from Justin Edwards and lead 33-24 at intermission.

The Great Danes got seven points from Jacob Iati.

The America East Conference announced on Monday evening that the Maine women's team will not participate in the 2013 America East tournament, this weekend at SEFCU Arena, in Albany.

The decision comes in the wake of the Feb. 26 bus accident, in which the Black Bears were traveling to Boston University, when the bus went off of Interstate 95, near Georgetown, Mass. Coach Richard Barron and Athletic Director Steve Abbott spoke with the student-athletes before notifying the league of its decision.

"It has been a difficult time for these student-athletes following the accident," says Robert Dana, Maine's vice president for student affairs and dean of students. "Our focus has been and continues to be the health and well-being of these players in their athletic and academic lives"

Maine's absence means that the University at Albany will advance right into Sunday's semifinals.

"I feel for them," said UAlbany coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who was an assistant at Maine from 1992-94. "That's something tough to go through."

The Great Danes will play Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m., against the winner of the Stony Brook/New Hampshire game.

"I feel really bad for them," said UAlbany senior Ebone Henry. "I wouldn't want that to happen to any team."

Fans who have already purchased single-session or all-session passes will receive refunds and can also receive a $10 discount to a future America East championship event. The Stony Brook/New Hampshire quarterfinal will be moved up to 6 p.m., the original time of the UAlbany/Maine game. 

“We are very sympathetic to the traumatic event Maine women’s basketball has experienced,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “We entrust this decision to the experts and professionals on Maine’s campus to do what is best for the student-athletes, coaches and staff. The America East still looks forward to a great tournament in Albany this weekend.”

Below is the America East men's tournament bracket.

UAlbany takes on No. 5 Maine, on Saturday, at 8 p.m. 

Below is the women's bracket.

UAlbany takes on Maine, Friday evening, at 6 p.m.

The University of Maine women's team has reportedly been in a crash, on its way to Boston.

An America East spokesperson said that the Maine AD has relayed that all the players and coaches have only suffered "minor injuries." Reportedly, however, the bus driver was injured though.

The Black Bears are scheduled to play against the Terriers of Boston University on Wednesday evening. 

Here in a preliminary report from the Bangor Daily News.

ORONO, Maine — The University at Albany had a long road trip end in disappointing fashion on Saturday afternoon.

The Great Danes haven’t slept in their own beds for the past four night, but they won’t get a good night’s sleep even when they get back to the Capital District. Maine played one of its best games of the season, leading for nearly the entire game, in a 64-52 victory over UAlbany at Alfond Sports Arena.

Due to the winter storm, the Great Danes hadn’t spent a night at home since Monday. The left for Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday, played UMBC on Wednesday, returned to Albany Thursday morning and then departing right away for Maine. 

UAlbany (7-5, 18-8) had won four straight games in this series and the Black Bears (4-8, 9-15) had lost four straight games heading in.

The Great Danes led only once, despite getting a huge game from Sam Rowley. The sophomore from Australia filled the stat sheet, scoring 19 points, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds, making five steals and dishing out four assists.

UAlbany went in front, 5-4, following a 3-pointer from senior Mike Black, which gave him 1,400 points for his career, just the 12th player in program history to reach that feat.

Maine then went on a 22-6 run, hitting five of their first six 3-pointers to grab a big lead.

Justin Edwards led the way for the Black Bears, scoring 16 points as four Maine players were in double figures, and nearly a fifth, as Mike Allison finished with nine points.  

Down 13 at halftime, the Great Danes cut the deficit to six, 40-34, with 11:57 remaining, but couldn’t get any closer. The Black Bears responded with a 10-4 run to bring the lead back to double-digits. 

Black’s status was uncertain after he sprained his ankle in Wednesday’s win over the Retrievers. He finished with 16 points in 35 minutes and now sits ninth all-time on the program’s scoring list, with 1,413 career points. 

UAlbany struggled from the field, shooting just 36 percent (20-56) from the floor and 29 percent (4-14) from beyond the arc.

Jacob Iati, who struggled with just five points on 2-13 shooting, did knock down his 73rd 3-pointer of the season, which ties him with former teammate Logan Aronhalt, for the fourth most in a single-season in program history.

The Great Danes host Hartford next Saturday at SEFCU Arena.

The University at Albany men's and women's basketball teams knocked off Maine on Saturday evening at SEFCU Arena.

The women's team clobbered its third league opponent, winning 71-39.

The men's team improved to 3-1 in league play, with a 76-63 win over the Black Bears. Here is a link to the game story, which appeared in Sunday's paper.

Below, are videos of Ebone Henry & Mike Black and Gary Johnson talking about the wins.

University at Albany senior point guard Mike Black talks about the team's upcoming America East Conference home game against Maine.

J.S. Carras/The Record

ALBANY - The Siena men's basketball team got a lift today, when sophomore Rakeem Brookins returned to the practice floor.

Brookins, who hadn't done anything since reaggravating a back injury against Maine, on Nov. 25, practiced on Thursday.

“It’s definitely a good sign for all of us," he said.

Brookins hurt his back on a hustle play, when he collided with a Maine player. He said that the doctors told him he can participate in team activities, as long as he feels okay.
 
The school had announced the sophomore, who missed all of last season with back issues, wouldn't play until at least Dec. 29, in the game against La Salle. Now, he's listed as questionable for Friday evening's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener against Rider.

Brookins' return to the floor seemed to give his teammates a little lift.

“I think we need a little bit more offense," said senior O.D. Anosike. "I think getting Rahk back soon will help alleviate some of that."

Brookins said he won't change  his game just because of the injury and he will try not to worry about it, once he returns.

“I’m not going to adjust my game for any reason because I have to play how I have to play," he said.

 In the six games without Brookins, the Saints (2-7) are averaging 55.5 points and are just 1-5.

 “It’s been a little struggle, but it’s still early in the season," Brookins said. "We’re going to get it together.”

Brookins averaged 11.7 points per game in the three games he's played this season, so his return would give this team some much needed offensive help.

University at Albany senior linebacker Jon Morgan talks about the team's upcoming game against Maine.

ORONO, Maine — The University at Albany men’s basketball team picked up the win they were desperately in search of on Saturday afternoon.

Gerardo Suero scored a game-high 28 points, while also dishing out six assists as the Great Danes posted a 76-68 victory over Maine, at Alfond Sports Arena.

Suero shot 11-for-22 from the field, while Luke Devlin (13) and Mike Black (11) each chipped in double figures for UAlbany (8-6, 16-12).

Coach Will Brown thought Devlin may miss the game because of back issue that flared up in the previous game against New Hampshire.

The Great Danes did play without second leading scorer Logan Aronhalt, who missed the game with a knee injury.

Alasdair Fraser scored a team-high 21 points for the Black Bears (5-8, 11-13), 14 of which came in the first half.

UAlbany returns to the floor on Wednesday, when the Great Danes host Vermont.        

UAlbany Athletics

The University at Albany has a pivotal game this afternoon, against Maine.

They need a win for a number of reasons, but mostly because they've lost three games in a row.

Following the loss to New Hampshire, on Thursday, coach Will Brown said this was a tired team. 

They will need to forget the fatigue for a few hours on Saturday.

A victory would also nearly lock up the fact that the Great Danes could finish no lower than fourth in the America East standings.

They will have their hands full, against a team they only defeated by one, 76-75, at home.

UAlbany may be without two starters, as Luke Devlin (back) and Logan Aronhalt (knee) may not play.

If Devlin and Aronhalt are out, the team will have to rely even more heavily on Mike Black (left) and Gerardo Suero, the nation's fifth leading scorer. 

The Great Danes are a talented team, but this is a bad time to be playing lousy. They need a solid game to turn things around.

This is the final play of Saturday's game.

You decide if it's a foul on UAlbany's Mike Black or Maine's Gerald McLemore. None was called and the Great Danes hung on for a 76-75 victory.

ALBANY - UAlbany and Maine played a terrific America East Conference basketball game on Saturday evening.

The Great Danes had just enough, surviving 76-75, to move into a first place tie with Stony Brook.

The Black Bears had the ball for the final 17.1 seconds, but couldn't get a shot, as Gerald McLemore fell down as time expired.

The victory moves UAlbany into a tie for first place, with Stony Brook, at 4-1. 

Gerardo Suero scored a game-high 26 points for the Great Danes (4-1, 12-7), but was just 6-for-16 from the floor. Mike Black added 15 and Luke Devlin chipped in 13 points.

Justin Edwards led the Black Bears (2-2, 8-7) with 19 points, while McLemore added 17.

UAlbany takes on Boston University on Monday, in a game that can be seen on CBS College Sports, at 7 p.m.

ALBANY - A very entertaining first half.

Both Maine and the University at Albany can score the ball and that was evident in the first 20 minutes.

The biggest lead was build early, as the Great Danes went up 13-4.

For the second part of the half, it was back and forth.

UAlbany was led by Gerardo Suero, who scored nine points. The Great Danes didn't have Logan Aronhalt for the later stages of the half, as he picked up his second foul.  Luke Devlin chipped in seven points for UAlbany.

There were a lot of fouls called in the first half, 22 to be exact.

Maine big man Alasdair Fraser sat for nearly 13 minutes after picked up his third foul. I like Justin Edwards so far. He's shown he's very capable of scoring the ball, finishing the half with nine points. Senior Gerald McLemore lead the Black Bears with 10 points.

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

Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro talks about his team's 71-60 victory over Maine on Saturday night.

The Saints are now 4-2 all-time in the ESPNU BracketBusters event, with wins over Maine, Northern Iowa, Boise State and James Madison.

ALBANY - The Saints played much better in the second half.

They came out of the gate with a 15-2 run to take the lead for good.

After a Rakeem Brookins 3-pointer, Siena had outscoring Maine 29-8 to start the second half and take a 57-41 lead.

It still wasn't an easy win, but it does snap a season-long four-game losing streak for the Saints, which improve to 11-16.

Siena shot 53.8 percent (14-26) in the second half, while holding Maine to 25 percent from the field (8-32).

Ryan Rossiter finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, while fellow senior Clarence Jackson added a game-high 17 points.

The Black Bears, who now have lost six games in a row, were led by Troy Barnies, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

ALBANY - Siena didn't play great in the first half and they couldn't really get a hold of the lead.

Maine shot better and actually outrebounded the Saints, 18-15, in the first half.

Ryan Rossiter played all 20 minutes, so it doesn't seem as if he will get a break from playing nearly the entire game, especially with the score.

Rossiter has eight points and six rebounds, while freshman Trenity Burdine added eight points off of the bench for Siena.

Gerald McLemore and Terrance Mitchell each scored seven points for Maine in the first half.

O.D. Anosike had six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.

The Saints were hurt by 10 turnovers.

It should be a good second half.