Jan. 12, 2012
Final Stats
Siena built a 22-point second half lead and then held on for its life, ousting Rider 83-79 at Times Union Center for its fifth win in six games. OD Anosike had 23 points and 14 rebounds - his 12th consecutive double-double - and Brandon Walters added a career-high 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Saints.
"Honestly, live, they were better than I thought they were," Rider coach Timmy Dempsey said afterward. "They came out and took it to us in the first half."
The Saints led from start-to-finish, but needed some key free throws late to seal the win.
Senior Kyle Downey fouled out with the Saints up 74-59 and 5:09 to play, then was whistled for a technical foul. Rider scored 12 of the next 13 points to cut the lead to 75-71 on a Brandon Penn 3-pointer with 1:56 left, but the Broncs could never make it a one-possession game.
Rider's best chance came when Owen Wignot missed two free throws with Siena up 80-76 and 28 seconds on the clock, but Anthony Miles missed a three, Walters grabbed the rebound, and then calmly sank two free throws to make it a six-point game.
Siena scored a season-high 83 points. The Saints led 64-42, their largest lead of the season, when Anosike completed a three-point play with 12:06 to play. They shredded Rider's zone in the first half, sprinting to a 47-33 lead at the break on 18-38 shooting. For perspective, Siena shot just 41 field goals the entire game in its win over Fairfield Friday.
Anosike extended his nation-leading, school-record double-double streak early in the second half. He finished with a game-high 23 points, but was held scoreless over the final 10:36, and Rider rallied.
The Broncs put five players in double-figures, including Penn, who finished with 15 points and 13 boards. Jeff Jones came off the bench to lead Rider with 17 points, Jonathon Thompson had 16, Daniel Stewart and Novar Gadson each had 11.
Siena nearly placed five in double figures as well. Evan Hymes scored 20 points and Downey added 11 to join Anosike and Walters, while Wignot finished with nine.
The Saints tallied 16 assists and just 10 turnovers. Downey and Poole combined for 10 assists and no turnovers.
"We didn't turn the ball over tonight, that was key," Siena head coach Mitch Buoanguro said.
Siena doesn't have much time to celebrate the win. The Saints face upstart, up-tempo Manhattan - a 75-72 winner at Iona tonight - Saturday night in Riverdale.
