Dec. 9, 2011
Final Stats
If Siena plays the way it did Friday night the next time it visits Springfield, it may need to book a couple more nights in the team hotel. UMass used a 17-5 run to rally past the Saints 82-78 in a wildly entertaining game at the Basketball Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase at the MassMutual Center, site of this year's MAAC Championships.
"Just a phenomenal college basketball game," Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro said. "We played with tremendous effort. Credit UMass, they made the shots late, but I'm extremely proud of my guys."
Riding the momentum from its 64-60 win over rival UAlbany Monday night, Siena sprinted to a 41-35 halftime lead, beating the Minutemen at their own game. Kyle Downey scored 14 of his career-high 23 points before intermission for Siena. The 41 points were the most Siena scored in a half all season."
"We played great team basketball in the first half," Downey said. "Everyone was involved."
The lead reached 11 with 16:45 to go, 49-38, when UMass made its move.
Chaz Williams started the run with a 3-pointer, and Freddie Riley hit three threes during the tide-turning spurt. Riley's final three gave UMass a 55-54 lead with 12:14 to play, but the Saints did not go away.
OD Anosike posted his fifth straight double-double with a dominant 22-point, 14-rebound effort, as Siena shifted its offense in his direction to stay in control of the game.
"He is playing as well as any big man in the East," Buonaguro said of his junior forward.
Siena led 70-69 with 3:35 to play, when Williams took over. He scored on driving layups on three straight positions, and had 11 of the Minutemen's final 13 points to key the win. Williams finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals, after being frustrated by Siena point guard Evan Hymes most of the game.
"I think we got a little tired," Buonaguro said. "With the short bench, and a freshman point guard, that's going to happen. We had done a great job on Williams all night."
Still, Siena had a chance to tie the game late. Down two with 45 seconds to play, Siena trapped the high ball screen, and Anosike stole the ball from Williams who quickly fouled him with 25 seconds on the clock. Anosike made the first, but missed the second. Siena was forced to foul, and UMass made 6-6 free throws in the final 21 seconds, the final four by Williams.
Williams and Riley combined for 42 points to pace UMass, Downey and Anosike combined for 45 for Siena. The Saints have been held to 44 points total in two games this season. Hymes finished with a stellar line: 16 points, seven assists and two rebounds.
Siena hosts Fordham Monday night at Times Union Center before a nine-day break for final exams.
