Feb. 21, 2009
Ray Blesser presents Brendan Bradt with check for $25,000
Final Stats
Photo Gallery
Watch Fan win $25K with Halfcourt Shot
ALBANY, N.Y. - Siena raced to a 40-19 lead at the half and held on for an impressive 81-75 win before a nationally televised audience in an ESPNU BracketBusters victory over Missouri Valley co-leader Northern Iowa Saturday at sold-out Times Union Center.
Kenny Hasbrouck led the balanced Saints with 16 points. Seven players scored eight points or more for Siena, including reserves Clarence Jackson and Josh Duell who contributed key early minutes in the victory.
The Saints shot 54% from the field before the break and took their biggest lead of the game to the locker room after Ronald Moore raced the length of the court and beat the buzzer with a floater in the lane. Jackson made 4-5 3-pointers in the first half and led all scorers with 12 points. Duell had four assists in 12 first half minutes, providing a key spark after the Saints starting front line got in foul trouble.
Northern Iowa scored 56 points in the second half, but the Panthers scored 22 of those in the final 2:21 with Siena comfortably in control.
Center Jordan Eglseder led UNI with 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Panthers also made 6-15 3-pointers in the second half after going 1-10 from distance before intermission. Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Adam Koch joined Eglseder in double figures with 13 and 11 points respectively.
Ryan Rossiter scored 11 points, added six rebounds, three blocks and three steals for the red-hot Saints. Edwin Ubiles had 10 points and seven rebounds, Alex Franklin had nine points and four boards and Ronald Moore finished with eight points, five rebounds and five assists. Duell ended with eight points, helping the Siena reserves control a commanding 27-19 edge in bench scoring.
The Saints shot 55% from the field in the first half and 49% for the game. They made 7-19 3-pointers and 16-22 free throws.
Siena runs its home winning streak to 18 games, which ties for the fifth longest in the nation. Although this was the team's final home contest of the regular-season, it could have three more home games when the conference championships return to Times Union Center March 6-9.
The Saints have two league games next weekend in Western New York against second place Niagara and last place Canisius, but have already secured the regular-season championship and #1 seed.
During a second half timeout, Brendan Bradt made a half court shot for $25,000 in the Northeastern Fine Jewelry Shooting Stars contest.
