I can safely say that I just had my most memorable moment in college; oddly, it was in Albany.

Watching D.J. Rivera steal the inbounds pass and run it back for a dunk with 11 seconds left was incredible. Every single fan rooting for Binghamton University was screaming and out of their seat at this point. I don’t think my adrenaline has ever been at a higher point. And I wasn’t the only one.

“The energy of all the fans was amazing,” said Binghamton senior Evan Dworkin. “The end of the game was one of my most exciting moments in college with everyone jumping on top of each other.”

The heat of the moment seemed too much for Binghamton fans when we rushed the court. It seems somewhat classless to rush the court following a conference semifinal win. But give us Bearcat fans some slack; this is our first ever America East final. You can be sure following a win this Saturday, though, it will happen again.

The Binghamton faithful were in strong form in Albany this weekend. Hordes of students, alumni and community members arrived in Albany and made the rest of the conference feel the Bearcats’ presence. Among them were Dworkin and SA President Matt Landau.

“It was great that Binghamton fans outnumbered all the other schools’ fans except for Albany,” Landau said. “Even on Sunday, though, it seemed liked there were more Binghamton students than Albany students.”

It was odd to see that during Albany’s two games in this tournament they were far from sell-out crowds. With their team hosting, you would assume more fan support. Perhaps we are spoiled here in Vestal by fans who care about their team.

The tournament location was also questionable based on the issues that arose during some games this weekend. Technical difficulties with the shot clocks forced tournament officials to use temporary ones on rolling carts at the baselines during the last two quarterfinals. Some Binghamton students were unimpressed with Albany’s facilities.

“I think it was an OK place compared to some other places in the conference,” Dworkin said. “But after being in the Events Center for every game, nothing compares.”

Landau had a different take.

“The Events Center would have been a lot better,” he said. “It was embarrassing that they couldn’t get the shot clocks working. It looked more like our West Gym.”

Binghamton fans were active even during other schools’ games. During the Vermont quarterfinal against Albany, Bearcat fans were cheering “D.J.’s better” every time AE Player of the Year Marqus Blakely of Vermont stepped to the free-throw line.

Blakely won the award last Friday at the same time it was released that Binghamton’s Rivera not only missed the award but failed to make even the all-conference first team.

“I think it was insulting that he didn’t even make the first team,” Dworkin said.

Rivera led the league in scoring with close to 20 points a game. His absence on the first team as the conference’s leading scorer is unprecedented at worst and insulting at best.

“When you jump from the No. 5 seed to No. 1 in one year, someone deserves the credit,” Landau said. “It’s clear that the AE coaches don’t respect us.”

BU fans also showed their distaste for Albany on Sunday during their semifinal match against UMBC as Bearcat fans would cheer “Let’s go Bearcats” and “safety school” throughout the game.

Albany fans had a mutual distaste for the top-seeded Bearcats. In both of BU’s games this weekend, numerous Albany fans were found cheering heavily for Binghamton’s opponent. Following Albany’s semifinal loss, Binghamton fans were shouting, “Where is your team?” when the Great Danes’ fans cheered against Binghamton.

Look who’s laughing now.

Saturday’s final against UMBC is the biggest game Binghamton will have ever played. The emotions are high and students are already talking of lining up for tickets as early as four hours before they go on sale.

“I need to get myself mentally ready all week for this,” said BU junior Tom Maxim. “I’m going to get there as early as I can.”

With a limited supply of tickets and the fact that the Events Center has sold out the last few games, you can be sure that tickets to the America East Championship will go fast. The tickets go on sale to BU students on Wednesday at noon at the Events Center box office.

“It’s going to be an early morning,” Dworkin said. “But it will be a moment I will never forget.”