March 7, 2010
Final Stats
Ronald Moore scored 15 points and dished out 10 assists as Siena rallied from a halftime deficit for the second straight night to post a stirring 72-62 MAAC semifinal win over Rider Sunday at Times Union Center. The top-seeded Saints advance to the MAAC title game to face the #2 seed Fairfield here tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
It's the fourth straight season Siena has played for the MAAC Championship. The Saints won the title here at Times Union Center each of the last two years.
Siena out-scored Rider 44-32 in the second half, including a decisive 16-0 run that turned a four point deficit into a comfortable 60-48 lead with 7:28 remaining. The biggest shot in the spurt was a 3-pointer from the left corner from Moore that brought the partisan crowd to its feet. The senior point guard made both his tries from distance after missing 37 of the previous 42 he attempted entering the game.
The Saints struggled mightily on offense in the first half, making just 32% (9-28) of their field goals, and the Broncs took advantage, using a 7-0 run to build a 23-20 lead with 5:21 left.
Rider dominated the glass in the first half (26-18) and senior First Team All-MAAC selection Ryan Thompson scored 15 of his 21 points before the break. Novar Gadson (10) and Mike Ringgold (9) combined for 19 first half rebounds. Ringgold ended with 20 points and 14 rebounds in a losing effort.
The Saints rebounded in the second half. Ryan Rossiter finished with 10 points and 18 boards for his 20th double-double of the season. The 18 boards tied a career-high. Teammate Alex Franklin finished with 18 points and corralled six of his eight boards after intermission.
But Siena's frontline played second fiddle to Moore who moved within one assist of Jared Jordan's MAAC career record (813) which ranks 25th all-time in Division I.
Moore decision making helped Siena shoot 52% from the field in the second half. Junior Clarence Jackson also solved Rider's 2-3 zone late. Jackson made 3-5 3-pointers in the second half after misfiring on his only try in the first.
The victory pushed Siena's home court win streak to 37 games. A 38th consecutive win tomorrow would give the Saints their third straight NCAA Tournament berth and sixth in program history.
