Feb. 7, 2009
Final Stats
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Ryan Thompson blew past the Siena defense and scored the game-winning basket on a right-handed layup with three seconds remaining as Rider knocked off the Saints 90-88 at Alumni Gymnasium Saturday. The loss snapped Siena's eight-game win streak and was the Saints first league loss of the season.
Siena (18-6, 12-1) led 71-58 with 8:58 left, but the Broncs scored on 16 straight possessions and led 86-81 with 1:35 left. The Saints rallied to tie the game on two Kenny Hasbrouck free throws and a three-point play by Alex Franklin.
The teams then traded baskets with Rider scoring on a tough Thompson jumper and Siena answering after two missed free throws on a Ryan Rossiter layup with 37 seconds left. Thompson then held the ball at midcourt until the final seconds and easily drove past his defender for the winning score.
Five players reached double figures for both teams, as was the case in the January 9 meeting at Times Union Center which Siena won 91-81.
Hasbrouck led the Saints with 29 points, his second straight big effort on the road. He made 9-18 field goals and 5-8 3-pointers to follow up his 33-point showing at Saint Peter's Monday.
Rider shot 57% from the field in the second half and 55% for the game. The Broncs made 11-19 3-pointers and Siena shot 10-20 from long range.
Justin Robinson scored a career high 25 points to lead Rider. Robinson made 9-12 field goals and 5-6 3-pointers. He sparked the Broncs' second half comeback by converting several open threes.
Rossiter and Alex Franklin both finished with double-doubles for the Saints. Franklin had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Rossiter finished with 14 points and 11 boards. Ronald Moore and Edwin Ubiles each scored 10 points.
Rider led 44-40 at the half thanks to 10 points from Harris Mansell. He finished with 13 to join Robinson, Novar Gadson (17), Thompson (13) and Mike Ringgold (12) in double figures.
The Saints used a 20-4 run to start the second half, turning a four point deficit into a 12-point lead.
The loss is just the third for Siena since the end of November when the team lost three straight in the Old Spice Classic, the other two coming at Pittsburgh and at Kansas. Siena had also won 17 straight games against MAAC opponents dating back to last season and 12 of 14 conference road games coming in.
Siena will have little time to dwell on the defeat as they host Loyola Monday night.
