Danes get CIT bid, extend season

ALBANY, NY — The UAlbany men’s basketball team’s season is not over yet, despite not receiving a bid to the NCAA tournament. 

The Danes (21-13,10-6 AE)  captured their third straight 20+ win season but fell short in the conference championship game at Vermont on Saturday. They will now host Saint Peter’s in the first round of the CIT on Thuresday at 7:00 p.m. 

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to play in the post season and be a part of the CIT, our guys have worked extremely hard all season long, and we continued to get better and better as the season progressed,” said UAlbany head coach Will Brown in a statement. “I am happy we are being rewarded for our efforts and success this season. The CIT will give our young core a chance to play in the postseason in a championship tournament format.”

Saint Peter’s, who competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletics Conference (MAAC) made it all the way to their conference semifinals before losing to Iona. They completed their 2016-17 campaign with a 19-13, 14-6 MAAC record and Thursday’s game marks the program’s first post season tournament since the 2010-11 season. 

“I am happy that our two seniors Dallas and Mike will have the opportunity to wear the uniform at least one more time,” Brown went on to say. “We have a lot of respect for St. Peter’s as they are well coached and arguably the best defensive team in the MAAC. I would like to thank the CIT and Mark Benson and his team for affording us the opportunity to play at home.”

UAlbany’s last CIT appearance was an 89-79 loss to Manhattan in 2012.

Ticketing information for the game will be released in the coming days. It will be played at SEFCU Arena on the campus of UAlbany.