UAlbany MBB Defeats Vermont 75–68, Earns Statement Win
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The University at Albany men’s basketball team delivered a statement victory on its home floor, defeating Vermont 75–68 in a hard-fought America East matchup. The win marked a significant breakthrough for the Great Danes, who entered the contest having never defeated the Catamounts and after navigating a rocky start to the season.
“We are not in these positions without Martin Luther King, and that moment was huge for our program,” said UAlbany men’s basketball head coach Dwayne Killings when discussing the mentality behind the team’s victory.
A Rocky Start
The game began in familiar fashion for the Great Danes, as Vermont opened on an 11–2 run and controlled the early tempo. The Catamounts extended their lead to 16–8 with 12:02 remaining in the first half, leaning heavily on Gus Yalden (#19), who dominated the paint and showcased impressive court vision, including a Joker-esque assist that energized the Vermont bench.
Despite the early deficit, UAlbany remained composed. Rather than folding under pressure, the Great Danes slowly chipped away at their lead.
Embracing the Fire
The response echoed a famous sentiment from boxing trainer Teddy Atlas, who once told his fighter, “We are firemen,” urging him to embrace pressure rather than flee from it. Faced with adversity once again, UAlbany embodied that mentality. The Great Danes absorbed the heat, steadied themselves, and gradually extinguished the flames that Vermont had ignited.
Lindsey Leads the Charge
Amir Lindsey anchored the Great Danes with a game-high 24 points while playing all 40 minutes. Lindsey was efficient and composed throughout the night, shooting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and converting 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. He added four rebounds and consistently delivered in key moments as Vermont attempted to claw back into the game.
Abdoulaye Fall and Isaac Abidde provided crucial secondary scoring, finishing with 16 points apiece and four rebounds each.
Matulu Controls the Glass
Zacharie Matulu made his presence felt on the interior, leading both teams with 13 rebounds while playing the full 40 minutes. The Capital Region native contributed seven points and two steals, providing UAlbany with much-needed toughness and energy on both ends of the floor.
Chess or Checkers
The Great Danes’ composure was also a reflection of the coaching staff’s steady hand throughout the night. Assistant coach Willie Jenkins was visibly engaged from the sideline, consistently coaching up his players during key stretches. Rather than focusing on missed shots, Jenkins emphasized effort and accountability, repeatedly reminding Isaac Abidde and others, “We don’t care about the missed shots, but you still need to be engaged on the boards.” That message resonated, helping UAlbany maintain confidence and physicality despite uneven shooting.
From a tactical standpoint, head coach Dwayne Killings made a calculated chess move by sticking with a double‑big lineup even as both frontcourt players carried three fouls. Trusting his team to remain disciplined in crunch time, Killings resisted the urge to downsize, a decision that paid dividends on the glass and in controlling the tempo late. The confidence shown by the coaching staff was mirrored by the players on the floor.
ICY VEINS
Abdoulaye Fall rose to the occasion throughout the game, delivering in key moments by knocking down a huge shot and sealing the win with a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the free-throw line.
As a team, the Great Danes shot 44.4 percent (24-of-54) from the field and 36 percent (9-of-25) from three-point range. UAlbany finished with 32 rebounds, narrowly trailing Vermont’s 33, but made up the difference with timely shooting and disciplined execution.
Play of The Game
Winning Frames
