PHILADELPHIA – Albany star guard Jamar Wilson of the Bronx twice thought of transferring to a bigger program, including Marquette. The Great Danes were anything but great in his first two seasons, and the 6-1, 185-pound junior always believed he was a Big Eastcaliber guard.

Last night he proved it.

Wilson scored 19 points and had six assists, four rebounds and two steals as Albany, the No. 16 seed in the Washington Region, threw a major scare into top-seeded Connecticut before losing, 72-59.

“I’m not trying to be sarcastic or anything, but if I would have thought that I’d be playing UConn and up 12 points three years ago, there’s no way we’d be able to play with a team like that in the same building,” said Wilson. “It’s an amazing accomplishment, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”