Jan. 4, 2003

Box Score

Prosper Karangwa scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Siena picked up its eighth victory (8-3) of the season, 89-81, over Providence (7-4) before 8,875 resilient fans in snow-swamped Albany Saturday evening. The Saints used a decisive 12-0 run with just over five minutes remaining to break-open the game.

Karangwa scored 14 of his points in the first half and freshman Michael Haddix added 12 of his 20 as the Saints took a 39-34 lead to the locker room. Haddix also had a double double, chipping in 11 rebounds. The Friars closed to within three late in the half after Siena had built as much as an 11-point advantage. Tommy Mitchell beat the buzzer with a breakaway lay-up to account for the halftime score.

Ryan Gomes scored 12 of his 17 in the first half for the Friars.

Providence rallied three minutes into the final stanza, tying the game on a Tukka Kotti jumper before taking the lead when Chris Anrin connected on two free throws on the successive possession. The lead was the Friars first since they scored the game's opening field goal.

Freshman Antoine Jordan answered with a three from the left wing to briefly give Siena the lead back, but Shieku Kabba and Chris Anrin converted back-to-back treys to put Providence up 56-51. Jordan was one of four Siena players in double-figures with 16.

Mitchell, who finished with 16 points, tied the game again at 62 with five consecutive points with just under nine minutes remaining. Karangwa finally gave Siena the lead back on a contested three from the top of the key five minutes later.

Karangwa, Haddix and Jordan all scored over the game-turning spurt that followed. And Siena was on target from the free throw line down the stretch. The Saints were 33-44 from the charity stripe on the night.

Maris Laksa scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the second half for the Friars.

Both teams did much of their scoring from the perimeter. The Saints had eight threes and shot 42% from outside the arc, while Providence made good on nine (35%) of their attempts.

The win was Siena's first over a Big East school since a 80-79 triumph over Pittsburgh in the 1988-89 season. Siena also avoided its first three-game home losing streak in seven years.

The Saints return to conference action at MAAC preseason favorite Manhattan on Tuesday at 7 p.m.