The University of Albany is hoping to return to the NCAA tournament for a third straight year. It got off to a good start Wednesday night.
The No. 1 seeded Great Danes (22-8, 15-1 America East) jumped out to an early 17-point lead and coasted to an 83-66 win over No. 8 seed Maine (3-27, 2-14) in the first round of the America East tournament.
UAlbany guard Evan Singletary led all scorers with 19 points, 14 of which came in the first half.
The Great Danes earned bids to the big dance by winning the America East title in 2013 and 2014. They lost to Duke in the Round of 64 in 2013 but earned the school’s first-ever NCAA tournament win last year by beating Mount St. Mary’s in a play-in game before losing to No. 1 seed Florida.
UAlbany will face No. 5 New Hampshire in the semifinals Sunday at 1 p.m.
Around the League
No. 2 Vermont 66, No. 7 UMBC 39
No. 3 Stony Brook 62, No. 6 Binghamton 57
No. 5 New Hampshire 67, No. 4 Hartford 63 (OT)
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@AmericaEast