Jan. 14, 2011
Final Stats
How bad did Siena need Clarence Jackson back? Just ask the Red Foxes. The sharp-shooting senior made a triumphant return to the rotation, coming off the bench to hit five 3-pointers and score 19 points, leading Siena to a 66-59 road win over Marist in Poughkeepsie Friday night.
It was Siena's eighth straight victory over their archrivals, and the win snapped a five-game road losing streak, and evened the Saints' conference record at 3-3.
Jackson said he wasn't sure he was going to play until talking with the Siena sports medicine staff earlier in the day. The Saints were sure glad he did.
He made 5-of-7 shots from 3-point range, while the rest of his teammates combined to hit just 1-of-8. At least on this night, it was clear he was the ingredient the Saints have been missing.
Without him, Siena won its two biggest games of the season, defeating Georgia Tech and Iona, but struggled mightily on offense in four losses.
Still, Mitch Buonaguro called this a defensive win.
Siena limited the Red Foxes to 39.7% from the field and 5-23 from 3-point range. The Saints mixed defenses, playing about half the game in their typical zone, but starting and finishing the contest in man-to-man. The result was a much more effective perimeter defense than was on display in Western New York in a pair of losses last weekend.
With Jackson knocking down shots outside, the inside was opened up for Ryan Rossiter and ever-improving sophomore OD Anosike. The pair combined for 28 points and 22 rebounds, with Rossiter completing his 12th double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 boards.
Siena never trailed, but never led by more than seven points. Anosike helped the Saints maintain their lead by scoring eight of his nine points in the first 10 minutes of the final stanza.
The Saints played without reserve forward Davis Martens (ankle), and starting forward Owen Wignot was held scoreless for the second straight game in just 17 minutes (thumb). Kyle Griffin also missed his sixth straight game with a shoulder injury.
Sam Prescott led Marist with 15 points. The Red Foxes placed four starters in double figures, but got no points from their bench.
Prescott's three cut Siena's lead to 55-54 with 2:51 to play, but Jackson answered with a three, and Rossiter pushed the lead to five with a tough 3-point play on the Saints' next possession. Siena struggled to put the game away from the free throw line, but Jackson eventually did, making all four of his tries in the last minute.
It's good to have him back.
