Jan. 3, 2011
Box Score
Ryan Rossiter scored a game-high 26 points, none bigger than his tough running layup with 49 seconds to play that put Siena up to stay in a 73-69 MAAC win over Iona Monday night in Albany.
In a matchup of the MAAC's top two players, Rossiter, the Preseason MAAC Player of the Year, got the better of Iona's Mike Glover (18 points, 8 rebounds). He helped Siena rally from a 14-point first half deficit, and improve its early conference record to 2-1.
It was the 10th straight time Siena has defeated Iona, which entered the game playing as well as any team in the conference.
Glover scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half, and dominated the game early as the Gaels led 26-12 at the 10 minute mark. But Siena's zone defense tightened, and Iona managed just 41 points over the final 30 minutes.
The Saints scored 12 of the final 14 points in the first half to close the gap to 34-31 at intermission.
Siena took its first lead since the early stages of the game, 42-41, on a Rakeem Brookins layup with 16:53 to play. The lead changed hands 10 times the rest of the way, and neither team led by more than two points from the 8:15 mark until Jonathan Breeden sank two free throws to put the Saints up four with 23 seconds to play.
Iona took its final lead, 67-66, on a 12-foot jumper by Machado in the lane with 1:34 left. Siena then worked the shot clock and got the ball to Rossiter at the left elbow, who spun his way to the basket, and was fouled as he let go a twisting layup that kissed glass and found the bottom of the net. His free throw put Siena up 69-67, and Iona couldn't score on its final three possessions.
The Saints made all five of their free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
Rossiter was again the star, but the difference on this night was he had plenty of help.
Brookins scored 11 points and had four assists. Perhaps most impressive, he turned the ball over just once (his only turnover in the last three games), against an Iona team that pressed for the majority of the game.
Owen Wignot had eight points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Kyle Downey added nine points, two assists and no turnovers, starting in place of injured Clarence Jackson, who missed his fourth straight game with an ankle sprain. Davis Martens came off the bench to contribute eight points and four rebounds in 24 minutes, and Breeden hit the game's biggest free throws.
Iona was led by Machado, who scored 21 points and had seven assists. Machado entered the game tied for the national lead with 8.3 assists per game.
Siena dominated the glass against the athletic Gaels, 40-31, and controlled a +7 advantage in the second half. The Saints also shot a season-high 94% from the foul line, including a perfect 8-8 effort from Rossiter.
Siena won its 1,000th all-time game, in this its 70th season. Iona also entered the game with 999 victories.
This was the only home game in a 25-day span for Siena which travels to Canisius and Niagara this weekend feeling a whole lot better about themselves.
