Nov. 27, 2006
Final Stats
Senior Michael Haddix scored 13 points and Siena forced 15 first half turnovers in a 64-40 non-conference road win at NJIT Monday night. Classmate David Ryan added 12 points and Edwin Ubiles had 11 to lead a strong effort by the Saints' freshmen class.
"This was a great team win," head coach Fran McCaffery said. "We got contributions from a lot of different players and made the key plays when we needed to."
Freshman Ronald Moore played the entire second half for Siena after sophomore Kenny Hasbrouck left the game at halftime with an injury.
"I told Ronald we were going to need him to take us home (since Kenny couldn't play)", McCaffery said. "I thought he did a tremendous job in the second half stepping up and leading us on the court."
Moore scored just two points, but committed only one second half turnover and keyed Siena's defensive pressure, which was ultimately the difference in the game.
Siena implemented a 1-2-1 full court press for the majority of the game and then sunk into the post in their half court defense, forcing NJIT to fire from the outside. The Highlanders shot just 37% from the floor, including 5-25 from 3-point range.
The Saints also dominated the glass for the first time this season. Freshman Alex Franklin had 12 of the Saints' 39 rebounds, consistently out-jumping and out-working the opposition to free balls. Classmate Cory Magee added five boards in 14 minutes.
"I thought the major difference tonight was our game plan and approach to defense," Franklin said.
Siena used four freshmen on the floor for 10 of the 40 minutes. Ubiles complemented his classmates' defensive tenacity with fluid, effortless moves to the basket when the Saints had the ball. Ubiles made 5-of his-7 field goal attempts inside the 3-point arc and dished out a game-high five assists.
Marc Swan Milbourne and Clayton Barker led the Highlanders with 10 points a piece.
The 24-point win was the largest in McCaffery's 32 games as Siena head coach, edging a 23-point home win over Rider last season.
Siena begins its home season Wednesday against Hofstra. The game is the second half of a men's/women's doubleheader, and tips off a four-game homestand.
"I just hope our fans are as excited to see us as we are (to see them)," Franklin said.
Notes: The 40 points were the fewest allowed by the Saints since a 56-39 win over Manhattan in the 1996-97 season and equaled the second fewest allowed in the Division I era (post 1976-77)...The Saints had 10 steals for the third time in four games this season...Junior Tay Fisher was 0-for-7 from the floor and still has not converted a field goal this season...Kenny Hasbrouck told reporters after the game he tweaked his groin in practice and did not believe the injury to be serious...Siena has more assists than turnovers for the first time this season...The team shot just 3-for-18 from 3-point range, converting 21-35 field goals from inside the arc.
