Nov. 16, 2011

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If the Siena basketball team is going to prove doubters wrong this season, Wednesday night's 65-56 season-opening win over Navy may have provided the blueprint. Kyle Downey scored 19 points, and the Saints overcame two key injuries that limited the active roster to just eight players including two walk-ons, in a determined effort before 5,896 fans in Albany.

Siena shot 49% from the field for the game, including 53% after intermission, out-executing the disciplined Midshipmen, but stats tell very little about this win.

The Saints played the final 13:03 with what amounted to a six-man rotation when starting point guard Evan Hymes cramped up and could not return. Senior captain Owen Wignot played just six minutes after suffering a head injury when he crashed to the floor following a driving layup and foul with 13:41 on the first half clock.

Siena's opening day roster was already depleted. Projected starting point guard Rakeem Brookins will miss the year with herniated and bulging disks in his back, as will junior forward Davis Martens following hip surgery. Freshmen Imoh Silas and Lionel Gomis are also out this year due to NCAA reclassification rules.

Somehow, some way, the Saints figured out a way to win.

"It is what it is," head coach Mitch Buonaguro said of the injuries after the win. "I'm so proud of the guys who were out there. Our effort was tremendous."

Several players stepped in and made huge contributions, especially the four freshmen making their collegiate debuts.

Hymes scored 10 points and dished out three assists before leaving with the leg cramp. He ran the offense with controlled confidence in his 24 minutes, helping the Saints build a double digit lead. Classmate Rob Poole scored nine points and played with great composure down the stretch helping Siena protect its lead. Davonte Beard stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, four assists and a steal, and Marcus Hopper played well when OD Anosike left with two fouls in the first half, converting big three-point play.

Senior Brandon Walters poured in a career-high 12 points, equaling the total he scored last season. The trimmed down center added seven rebounds in a performance that provided plenty of optimism for the Siena faithful. Downey's 19 points came on 8-14 shooting in 39 minutes played.

Anosike, Siena's only Preseason All-MAAC pick, scored just one point but hauled down 10 rebounds and provided great effort in the closing minutes.

The Saints scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 39-25 lead with 16:46 to play. The lead bloomed to as many as 16 a minute later. Navy got as close as four , 60-56, with 48 seconds left on a Jordan Brickman three, but Poole and Downey made five of six free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Siena doesn't have much time to celebrate. It travels to face Mount St. Mary's Saturday night at 7 p.m. Wignot's status for that game is up in the air, while Buonaguro said Hymes is expected to play.