Jan. 10, 2003

Box Score

Freshman Michael Haddix led all-scorers with 18 points as Siena (9-4/3-1MAAC ) defeated Iona (8-6/3-2 MAAC) in a seesaw defensive struggle played before 6,791 fans in Albany's Pepsi Arena Friday evening.

Siena sprinted to an 8-0 lead behind the efforts of Haddix, who scored six straight to force an early Iona timeout. The Gaels responded with seven straight to pull within 8-7 seven minutes in, and answered a subsequent five-point Siena spurt with 13 consecutive points to build a 20-12 lead with four and a half minutes remaining. The Saints scored the half's final four points to account for the 24-21 deficit at the intermission.

Both teams buckled down on defense and struggled offensively in the initial stanza. The Gaels shot just 29% from the floor while Siena converted just 36% of its field goal attempts and was 0-for-7 from three-point range.

Siena grabbed the lead right away after the break, scoring the first four points to take a 25-24 advantage on an Austin Andrews put-back.

The Gaels answered by scoring 14 of the game's next 21 points to amass a 38-31 lead five minutes into the decisive stanza, but the Saints again had a retort. Justin Miller's two free throws with 11:15 left capped off an 8-0 Siena run that put the home team back on top.

Maceo Wofford, who led the Gaels with 12 points, gave Iona some breathing room, scoring four of six-straight points for the visitors, extending the lead back to five with under 10 minutes to play.

Prosper Karangwa's three sparked a 7-0 Siena run that put the Saints up for good, 52-49, with five minutes remaining. The initial field goal was the first of the game for Siena, which began 0-10 from three-point range.

The Saints turned the game over to Haddix inside down the stretch, and the freshman responded with six of his 18 points. Siena out-scored Iona 30-22 in the paint, and limited the Gaels to 31% from the field. The Saints are 7-0 when holding their opposition under 40% from the field this season.

Siena returns to conference action at MAAC foe Niagara on Tuesday evening.