Dec. 6, 2006
Final Stats
Michael Haddix scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Siena past Niagara 81-69 Wednesday night in the MAAC opener for both schools. The Saints shot 50% from the field and out-rebounded the Purple Eagles 42-39.
"We scored 30 points in a hurry, and then I thought we got a bit complacent," Siena head coach Fran McCaffery said. "I was happy with our effort in spurts, but I didn't think we brought the consistent energy we are capable of."
The Saints (4-3/1-0) raced to a 30-18 lead following consecutive 3-pointers from Tay Fisher. Fisher connected on four first half 3-pointers accounting for all 12 of his points after entering the game 0-for-12 from 3-point range on the season.
Niagara (1-5/0-1) rallied behind freshman Tyrone Lewis who scored 12 of his team-high 22 points before the break.
"(Siena) is a great team; a team that can win this league," Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said. "That said we knew we couldn't let them come out and get the crowd into the game, and we didn't execute from a defensive stand point to keep that from happening."
Both teams found little trouble executing on offense.
Niagara used a 13-3 run to cut Siena's lead to just three points and trailed only 44-40 at the break. After a Lewis' 3-pointer on the Purple Eagles' second possession of the second half, the lead was just 44-43. Kenny Hasbrouck followed with four of his nine points, keying an 8-0 Siena run over the next 3:20.
The lead was cut to 61-58 with 9:17 left, but Siena scored the next nine points to take control.
The Saints never trailed in the second half as Niagara held its last lead with 16:42 left in the first half, 6-5.
Freshman Edwin Ubiles hit for double figures for the fifth straight game. Ubiles had 14 points, five rebounds and a Siena season-high eight assists. The Saints had 22 team assists; their largest output of the season and most in a regulation game since January 28, 2001.
J.R. Duffey scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds in a losing effort for Niagara. Clif Brown had 15.
Siena returns to action Saturday against MAAC foe Rider. The game tips at 1 p.m. and concludes a four-game homestand.
