Nov. 17, 2008
Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y. - Senior captain Kenny Hasbrouck led a balanced Siena attack with 20 points as the Saints routed Boise State 82-52 this evening in front of 6,626 in the team's season opener. Former Saint Tay Fisher '08 led the halftime ceremony as the program raised its 2008 MAAC Championship banner to the Times Union Center rafters.
In a rematch of last season's Bracketbuster blowout won by the Saints by 23 in Idaho, this season's rematch resembled a similar outcome. Siena (1-0) led wire to wire and by as much as 34 in posting the program's second largest season opening win in the Division I era, trailing only a 46 point pummeling of East Stroudsburg (110-46) in the 1984-85 opener.
The Saints came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders, opening the game on a 15-5 run capped by an Edwin Ubiles jumper at 13:34. Ubiles was one of six Saints who posted exactly eight points on the evening.
Boise State (1-1) trimmed the deficit to 20-15 at the 10:13 mark, but could get no closer the rest of the way. The Saints responded with a 27-13 run of their own to close out the half and head into intermission up by 19 (47-28).
Siena forced the Broncos into 13 first half turnovers, leading to 17 points. Additionally, the Saints made six first half threes while Boise struggled to find its range, going 0-9 from beyond the arc.
The Saints put the game away early in the second half, going on a 12-4 run to open the stanza finished off by a Ronald Moore three with 15:38 remaining that put Siena up 59-32. A Bob Cousy Award finalist, Moore finished with eight points and six assists without committing a turnover. On the defensive end, he shut down fellow Cousy Award nominee Anthony Thomas, holding him scoreless in the first half while the game was still hanging in the balance.
All 12 healthy Saints saw action in the game, with the second unit coming up with big minutes off the pine. Freshman Kyle Downey poured in 14 points in his collegiate debut, equaling the entire output of the Broncos bench. Classmate Owen Wignot also had a solid debut, posting eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a reserve role.
Boise State was led by Mark Sanchez who finished with 14 points, while Thomas added 12. The Broncos finished the game shooting just 34.6% from the floor including just 2-17 from three points range.
Siena's pressure defense forced the Broncos into 22 total turnovers, while limiting them to just eight assists. The Saints took advantage of these opportunities, garnering 28 points off turnovers while holding a 12-0 edge in fast break points.
The Saints return to action Saturday night against Cornell. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. at the Times Union Center.
