Feb. 12, 2010
Final Stats
Siena returned to the site of its last MAAC loss Friday night and suffered the same fate it did nearly one year ago. Niagara stunned the Saints 87-74 ending the nation's longest win streak and the Saints' perfect MAAC season.
About the only good thing that happened for Siena (21-5/14-1) Friday occurred in New Rochelle where Manhattan defeated Iona to provide the Saints with the outright MAAC regular-season championship. A small consolation following a forgettable performance.
At the frantic Gallagher Center, Siena could not match Niagara's (14-13/7-8) energy. After the Saints took a 46-43 lead just over three minutes into the second half, the Purple Eagles used a 27-7 run to build an insurmountable advantage.
Buoyed by 24 points from Tyrone Lewis and a career-high 20 from Kashief Edwards, Niagara handed Siena its first loss in exactly two months, and did so with shocking ease.
The Purple Eagles shot 54% from the field and had 22 assists on 33 field goals. Bilal Benn had nine of Niagara's 15 offensive rebounds and rounded out a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards.
Ryan Rossiter scored 21 of his team-high 23 points in the second half for Siena, but much of his scoring was done when the game was out of reach. Edwin Ubiles finished with 12 points on 6-15 shooting.
The atmosphere was electric and chaotic as the game was broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The Purple Eagles played to the crowd with several acrobatic dunks, many following missed jumpers. Niagara students stormed the floor after their team completed the upset.
The Saints led by nine early in the first half but got into uncharacteristic foul trouble. Niagara took advantage, rallying against the Saints' reserves to take a 39-37 lead to the lockerroom.
Siena has little time to regroup as it plays at Canisius Sunday at 2 p.m.
