Nov. 28, 2010

Final Stats

Princeton made three 3-pointers in the final 47 seconds of regulation to erase a six-point deficit, and the Tigers pulled away in overtime for an 86-77 win over Siena Sunday. Dan Mavraides hit the dagger, a leaning, double-clutch three from the right wing that found the bottom of the net with under a second to play, tying the score.

"I thought we played really well," Head Coach Mitch Buonaguro said. "It's a shame it came down to a couple plays late in the end of regulation. I thought the difference in the game was the (Douglas) Davis' three. We stop them there, we win the game."

Davis' three came with 47 seconds left and cut Siena's six point lead in half. Buonaguro indicated that Siena failed to switch as instructed on defense, allowing the Tigers' top long range threat to shoot an uncontested shot.

"We're a young team," Buonaguro said. "It's happened in three or four games now. We don't foul the right guy, we don't listen to what we're supposed to do, and that's a game we should have won. We made a critical mistake at the wrong time."

Siena pushed the lead back to five with two Jackson free throws with 27 seconds to play, but Mavraides shook free and sank a long three with 10 seconds left to cut the Siena lead to 68-66.

Jackson was fouled on the ensuing Siena possession and missed the first free throw before sinking the second to put the Saints up three. Princeton called timeout with 5.4 seconds left after crossing midcourt, and set up the game's critical play.

Maraides inbounded the ball to the top of the key and raced to get it back, he then took two dribbles to the right wing, elevated, double-pumped and connected over Owen Wignot to send the game to overtime.

"I just tried to get up on him as best I could," Wignot said. "I think if I would have jumped more, I could have blocked it, but I didn't want to foul him. It was a really tough shot and he hit it."

The Tigers out-scored the Saints 17-8 in the extra session. They were led by Kareem Maddox who scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Maddox did not start and came into the game averaging six points per game. He made 10-13 field goals and 10-12 free throws.

"He played great," Siena senior Ryan Rossiter said. "We gave him deep post position every time and he drilled us. We wanted to force him off the block, we never did it and he made us pay."

Rossiter finished with 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. It was the first time a Siena player grabbed 20 rebounds or more since Lee Matthews had 20 against Hartford on December 11, 1982. Rossiter also surpassed Matthews in career double-doubles with his school-record 37th.

Rossiter joined all five Siena starters in double figures. Wignot played one of the top games of his career, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. "The effort was great," Buonaguro said. "Our kids showed phenomenal resolve having to play Friday night, and playing a tough Princeton team."

Still, the consensus was this was a game the Saints let slip away.

"Absolutely (we let the game get away)," Rossiter said. "You're up six with (less than a minute left), and like coach said, we came out of the huddle, we showed our inexperience, we didn't focus, we didn't switch on a key three, and they hit it - that was the biggest play of the game. If we just get a stop there, or make them work 15 seconds, and then score a layup, we are still up four and win the game. We just showed our immaturity and lack of focus, and Mavraides, that was a great shot, but you don't ever want to put him in a position to hit a shot like that. He's a great shooter."