Dec. 1, 2007
Final Stats
ALBANY, N.Y. - Siena sprinted to an 8-0 lead and never trailed in a 75-71 win over UAlbany before 13,262 fans at Times Union Center Saturday night. Alex Franklin scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to complete his fourth straight double-double as the Saints knocked off their crosstown rivals for the third straight time and sixth time in the seven meetings since the series was reborn in 2001.
"I thought our focus and effort was tremendous from the start," Siena head coach Fran McCaffery said. "Games like this come down to your key players making plays. We made enough to get the job done."
Siena built an 18-point lead 12 minutes into the game and led 43-33 at the break. The lead ballooned to 20 points on a Chris De la Rosa jumper with 12:35 remaining, but UAlbany used a 16-0 run over the next eight minutes to close within 58-54 on a Josh Martin layup.
That was as close as the Great Danes would get until the final seconds.
Ronald Moore's 3-pointer gave Siena a seven point lead and the team's traded baskets before a Franklin dunk brought the partisan crowd to its feet and pushed the margin to nine with 2:24 left.
Siena missed eight of its 23 free throws, including several down the stretch to allow UAlbany back in the game once more. Franklin finally sealed the deal after Lillis cut the deficit to 73-71 by calmly sinking two free throws with six seconds to go.
Brent Wilson and Lillis each had double-doubles for the Great Danes who out-rebounded the Saints 45-29. Wilson finished with 20 points and 11 boards. Lillis had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Brian Connelly finished with 10 points and eight boards in a losing effort.
"They are bigger and stronger than us and we are quicker and more athletic," McCaffery said. "The game plan was for us to force the action, and we did a great job of getting in the passing lanes and disrupting their sets."
Sophomore Kenny Hasbrouck had 14 of his 18 points in the first half and was credited with four of Siena's 11 steals. Ronald Moore had 14 points and five assists and Edwin Ubiles battled through cramps to post 10 points. Josh Duell had seven points in 26 minutes off the bench.
Franklin has now posted all five of his career double-doubles in the last six games dating back to last year's MAAC title game.
"He played like a pro," McCaffery said of the sophomore standout. "He was the best player on the court tonight. By far."
The crowd was the second largest to watch a regular-season Siena home game and the fourth largest overall in program history.
