Jan. 11, 2009
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
Riverdale, N.Y. - Manhattan scored the first basket, but Siena answered with a 3-pointer and never trailed again in a 68-64 MAAC win at Manhattan Sunday. Edwin Ubiles scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists as the Saints improved to 6-0 in the league, equaling their best MAAC start ever.
The Saints (12-5, 6-0) had a 20-7 lead after Ronald Moore's layup at the 10:45 mark of the first half. Manhattan closed to within 25-23 on a Chris Smith 3-pointer, taking advantage after Siena's frontline was forced to sit with foul trouble.
Siena led 31-25 at halftime, and Manhattan (9-7, 3-3) again closed the gap to two, 43-41, on three straight 3-poointers by guard Devon Austin. The Saints scored the next eight points to push the lead to 10. Kenny Hasbrouck finished the rally with a breakaway layup, but the Saints missed a chance to increase their advantage when Hasbrouck misfired on two free throws after being intentionally fouled on the play.
Moments later, Hasbrouck hit a three and the lead ballooned to 13, but Manhattan hung tough, and used a 12-4 spurt to make it a one possession game, 65-62, with 1:07 remaining. Alex Franklin made 1-2 free throws with 27 seconds left to make it a four point game, and after Darryl Crawford made two free throws on the other end to cut the lead to 66-64, Edwin Ubiles calmly sank two tries for the Saints. Antoine Pearson misfired on a long three and Moore grabbed the rebound to allow the Saints to run out the clock.
Hasbrouck finished with 17 points and six rebounds for the Saints, reaching double figures for the sixth straight game. Moore had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists as Siena's starting backcourt accounted for 51 of the team's 68 points.
Manhattan was led by Chris Smith with 14 points, though he made just 5-14 field goals.
The Saints held the Jaspers to just 39% from the field, including just 32% in the first half.
It was Siena's 10th win in its last 12 games with the only losses coming at Pitt and Kansas. The Saints have also won 11 consecutive games against MAAC opponents (dating back to last year) and 26 of their last 32 league games.
Siena returns to action at archrival Marist on Thursday night.
