UAlbany Wins Men’s Basketball Season Opener Over Duquesne, Siena Loses To Vermont

It's the opening weekend for college basketball. The local teams split their opening contests in close fashion. Albany came out with a win. Siena started with a loss.

At home the Great Danes got a huge dunk from John Puk with under 50 seconds remaining to pretty much ice the game and give the Danes a 69-66 win. Mike Black hit a huge three with just over two minutes left to seize the lead for good for Albany in a back and forth game. Black's three gave the Great Danes the lead for good.

Puk has a career high 14 points and chipped in 8 rebounds. Black had 15 points to lead Albany to victory. The schedule gets much tougher in the next two ball games as Albany faces off against Ohio State on Sunday. The Buckeyes had their opener cancelled vs. Marquette on Friday night.

One last note for Albany fans. The last time the team won their opener was 2006/2007. It was also the last year they made the NCAA tournament.

The same fate did not find Siena. They led 30-24 at the half against Vermont but were outscored in the second 20 minutes 30-23 to lose 54-53 at home against a team that made the tournament last season.

Sandro Carissimo's layup with nine seconds left proved to be the game winner for the Catamounts. Luke Apfeld led the 'Mounts with 16 points.

The Saints were led by their best player but he also turned out to be the goat in this game. O.D. Anosike was his usual dominant self in the paint with 10 points and 17 rebounds but his lousy free throw shooting cost the Saints. Anosike missed 9 of his 11 freebies. As a whole the teams foul shooting was foul, missing 13 of 24 free throws.

The Saints blew an early 16 point lead, a theme repeated from last season. Evan Hymes led the Saints with 15 points.

Next up for Siena on Veterans day is a matchup with Navy!