Dec. 3, 2011
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
For the second time in three nights, the Siena men's basketball team dug itself an early hole, fought gamely to get back in the game, and ran out of gas down the stretch. The result was a 66-59 conference loss to Loyola University Maryland, and the program's first five-game losing streak in six years.
The Greyhounds (6-1/2-0) are off to their best start as a Division I program. Siena (2-5/0-2) has to regroup quickly as cross-town rival UAlbany comes calling Monday night.
"If you look at (four of) our five losses, they're exactly the same," head coach Mitch Buonaguro said. "We make a great run in the second half, and then we can't get over the hump. I thought the three turnovers late killed us tonight."
Buonaguro was referring to three instances in which the Saints turned the ball over on inbounds plays, after pulling within striking distance. They were three of a season-high 20 turnovers for the Saints. Loyola played a big part in the miscues, amassing an eye-popping 19 steals.
OD Anosike scored for Siena on the game's first possession, and then the Greyhounds went on a 16-2 run and never trailed again. Siena fell behind 15-1 in Thursday's loss at Saint Peter's, but as with that loss, they made things interesting late.
Evan Hymes scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Saints shot 57% from the field after intermission. They cut Loyola's big lead to six four times in the second half, and had several chances to get even closer.
Dylan Cormier led four Greyhounds with a career-high 22 points, making 5-6 3-pointers. Loyola shot 8-19 (42%) from distance, but just 15-42 (36%) from inside the arc.
Siena scored 40 points in the second half, and had its best showing of the season from 3-point range (6-11, 57%) and the free throw line (11-13, 85%).
Anosike registered his third straight double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. He has averaged 15.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and shot 55% from the field over the last four games.
Siena won't play another league game until January 3, when they play preseason favorite Iona at Madison Square Garden.
