Feb. 25, 2011
Final Stats
Siena proved it could play with the best team in the league on its home floor Friday night, but, as has been the case several times this season, a late scoring drought kept the Saints from a much-needed upset. Fairfield pulled away late in a 68-55 nationally-televised win over Siena in Bridgeport Friday night.
The setback, coupled with a Canisius win over Manhattan, means Siena will likely be the No. 7 seed in next weekend's MAAC Tournament to be held here at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
The Saints still have an outside chance at the No. 6 seed, and a First Round bye, but they would need a lot of help Sunday, including a favorable coin flip. The Saints need Canisius (vs. Loyola), Saint Peter's (at Rider) and Manhattan (at Niagara) to lose Sunday, and need to knock off Marist in their Senior Night game at 7 p.m. If all that happens, a coin flip will determine the No. 6 seed between Siena and Canisius. In fact, remarkably, coin flips would also determine the No. 2 seed (Rider or Iona) and No. 9 seed (Manhattan or Marist) in this scenario if Iona also defeated Fairfield.
Siena quickly erased a 37-28 halftime deficit, closing to within 38-37 with 15:27 to play, but the Saints missed several chances over the next five minutes to take the lead, and Fairfield eventually assumed control.
Leading just 43-40 with 10:26 to play after a Ryan Rossiter hook shot, the Stags scored the next 10 points to grab a 53-40 lead with six minutes left. The lead was double digits the rest of the way.
Fairfield was balanced, if not spectacular on offense, receiving 13 points from senior Yorel Hawkins and 10 from classmate Lyndon Jordan. Both players were honored in a Senior Night ceremony prior to the game. Freshman Maurice Barrow had 16 rebounds, helping Fairfield to a 44-39 edge on the glass.
Rossiter had 16 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Saints. It was the 55th double-double of his stellar career. OD Anosike scored 15 points and grabbed eight boards. He picked up his fourth foul with just over 12 minutes to play - a key moment in the game.
Fairfield had already locked up the regular-season title, and the Stags won by double figures despite shooting 29.7% from the field in the second half and getting just eight points from star point guard Derek Needham.
Siena closes regular-season play Sunday night at 7 p.m. against archrival Marist. The three-time defending MAAC Champs will then go to work on trying to become the first team in league history to win four straight Tournament Championships.
