Nov. 27, 2001

Final Stats

ALBANY, N.Y. - After a 25-year hiatus, the Siena men's basketball team (2-4) defeated the University at Albany Great Danes (0-4) 60-48, capturing the Albany Cup in the renewal of the Capital Region's greatest rivalry in front of 10,285 fans at Pepsi Arena. Dwayne Archbold led Siena with 19 points, E.J. Gallup scored a game-high 36 in defeat for Albany.

The game began ugly, as both teams struggled offensively in the initial stanza, combining for just 11 field goals in 59 attempts. Albany scored just 13 points and shot 16.1% from the floor.

Gallup scored 11 of Albany's 13 first half points, including the first five of the game to give Albany their only lead. The Saints responded with 10 consecutive points, sparked by two Andy Cavo three-point field goals to take the lead for good. Cavo had eight of his 10 points in the first half.

After the Great Danes closed to within two points early in the second half, Archbold connected on back-to-back three-pointers to push Siena's advantage to eight.

The Siena lead grew to as much as 13, before Gallup again sparked an Albany rally. The sophomore guard scored five straight points to close the gap to 35-29 with just under 10 minutes remaining. Archbold responded with four consecutive points for Siena, and the lead hovered around 10 until the five-minute mark, when Gallup and the Danes responded again.

Gallup scored seven consecutive points, including two NBA-rage threes to pull Albany within two points, 45-43, with just over two minutes left in the game. However, the Saints scored nine of the game's next 10 points, highlighted by a three-pointer from J.J. Harvey as the shot clock neared expiration, to put the game away.

Siena returns to action on Saturday at Cleveland State. The Saints defeated the Vikings 84-79 in Albany last season.