ALBANY — The University at Albany men’s basketball team was glued to the TV on Wednesday night.
The Great Danes anxiously watched NJIT build a 17-point lead over Bryant with 16 minutes remaining. But the Bulldogs came back, holding on for a 79-78 win that kept UAlbany’s playoff hopes alive.
“They had me jumping out of my seat a little bit. I’m not a Bryant fan at all, I’m not any other fan than UAlbany, but I’m glad Bryant got the win,” forward Gerald Drumgoole Jr. said.
UAlbany (7-22, 2-12 league) is chasing the Highlanders (7-20, 4-10) for the eighth and final seed in the America East Tournament. The two teams go head to head Saturday night at Hudson Valley Community College; tip off is at 7 p.m.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: McDonough Sports Complex, Hudson Valley Community College, Troy
Stream: ESPN3; Radio: WTMM 104.5 FM
If UAlbany loses Saturday, it will miss the playoffs for the first time as a Division I program, though every team made the America East postseason prior to the 2014-15 season. The last time the Great Danes finished as low as ninth was in the 2009-10 season, but they were the eighth seed that year because Binghamton was ineligible.
If the Great Danes beat NJIT, they still need to win at Vermont in the regular-season finale Tuesday night. The Catamounts have already clinched the regular-season title, their seventh straight.. The Great Danes would also need NJIT to lose its last game vs. New Hampshire.
Saturday’s game is meaningful for more than the playoff implications — it’s also Senior Night.
Drumgoole, senior guard/forward Trey Hutcheson and fifth-year guards Da’Kquan Davis and Sarju Patel will all be honored.
Drumgoole, a senior, has two years of eligibility left, but said he hasn’t decided about returning next…
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