New for the 2011-2012 seasons, the America East Daily Word, a collaboration between AmericaEast.com and AExtra, will recap the previous day's games and on goings on our nine campuses and provide links to previews, recaps, features and exclusive coverage.

It’s arguably the biggest non-conference basketball rivalry game for any of our schools - Albany vs. Siena for the Albany cup.

The crosstown battle between the Saints and Danes is the America East version of Louisville-Kentucky, or Xavier-Cincinnati. And it lived up to the billing last night at the Times Union Center. 

Albany already beat up on Siena for the women’s cup over the weekend and the start of last night’s game had all the makings of a blowout. The Danes were up 19 at one point during the contest, but as the Troy Record writes, it just wasn’t meant to be for Will Brown and company.

Close to 8,000 fans came out for the battle and they got to see a tremendous game. Mike Black propelled Albany to an early lead connecting from long range three times in the opening half while Jayson Guerrier reached double digits in points with 10.

Siena is a gritty team, however. The Saints proved that in their comeback against Vermont (a game the Cats eventually won) so Albany was going to be tested. Siena grabbed the lead about mid-way through the second half and never relinquished it taking back the Albany Cup from the Danes in a 64-60 win.

Media attention swirled around this game and rightfully so. Multiple news stations and several newspapers covered the game. Fox 23 had your video highlights, while the Times Union and Troy Record continue to cover both schools with a tremendous fervor.

For more of the Daily Word, head over to the AExtra Blog.