March 7, 2004

Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Tremmell Darden scored six of his 23 points in the final 34 seconds leading Niagara to a 79-74 win over Siena in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinal on Sunday.

James Reaves scored 14 points and added 10 rebounds, helping the Purple Eagles (21-8) reach the conference's championship game for the second time in three years. Niagara, the tournament's second seed, will face top-seeded Manhattan (23-5) on Monday, with the winner earning the MAAC's automatic NCAA tournament bid.

The 21 wins are Niagara's most since going 23-7 in 1992-93. The Purple Eagles won their sixth straight, their longest streak since winning 11 in a row in 1992-93.

Michael Haddix scored 21 points to lead Siena (14-16), which had advanced to four of the previous six tournament championship games. The Saints also lost to Niagara for the first time in four tournament meetings.

Niagara never trailed after it used an 11-0 run to pull ahead 63-55 on Darden's five-footer from the paint with 9:50 left.

Siena cut the lead to 71-70 on a Haddix drive with 1:34 remaining.

Darden insured the victory by scoring Niagara's next six points, four from the foul line and a dunk set up by a Mendez defensive rebound with 15 seconds left.

The first half was marred by a rash of technical fouls, one issued to Siena forward Brent Sniezyk for arguing a foul against him, and another to Siena coach Rob Lanier, who appeared to be yelling at his own player.

Niagara coach Joe Mihalich was also issued a 'T' for questioning a foul called against forward Juan Mendez.

As a result, neither team could find its rhythm, leading to several changes in momentum in which Siena opened a 30-19 lead, but then allowed Niagara to cut it to 40-38 at the break.