Feb. 9, 2012
Final Stats
Antoine Mason drove past the Siena defense and scored the game-winning basket on a left-handed layup with 14 seconds left, breaking a 54-54 tie in Niagara's critical 58-54 win over the Saints Thursday night in Lewiston.
Siena had a chance to tie, but Kyle Downey's running floater circled around the rim before falling into the arms on Juan'ya Green who sealed the victory with two free throws.
"It's a tough loss," Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro said. "I thought our guys really battled. I'm really proud of their effort."
The Saints lost their fourth straight game, and their fourth straight contest in this building. It could prove to be a crippling setback, as instead of distancing themselves from Niagara in the league standings, and sweeping the season series, Siena now finds itself in a tie for sixth with the Purple Eagles with just four league games remaining. The top six teams get a bye in next month's MAAC Championships.
Niagara was led by freshman Ameen Tanksley who scored a career-high 24 points and made 6-9 3-pointers on his birthday. Tanksley had 14 of his points in the first half, and gave the Purple Eagles a 28-20 lead with a driving layup with 3:28 left before intermission. Siena scored the final six points of the half to close with a basket.
Niagara led 44-37 after two free throws by Tanksley with 12:08 to play. Then the Purple Eagles went stone cold.
Siena scored 10 straight points, taking a 47-44 lead on OD Anosike's layup with 6:49 left. Niagara went eight minutes and 56 seconds without a field goal, but Marvin Jordan broke that drought with a huge shot - a corner three that gave the Purple Eagles a 49-47 lead with 3:59 to play.
Evan Hymes tied it with a quick drive on Siena's next possession, and Owen Wignot gave the Saints a 52-49 lead with a three from the left wing with 2:39 to play.
Wignot enjoyed his best game of the season, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds and two steals.
The game turned on Niagara's next possession when Tanksley elevated for a huge three to tie the game just 11 seconds after Wignot's triple. The Saints misfired on the other end, Anosike fouled out going for the rebound, and Green put Niagara back up with two free throws. Downey tied it again, 54-54, with two free throws on the other end, but Niagara went ahead for good on Mason's drive - his first points of the game.
Siena falls to 0-7 in MAAC games away from Times Union Center. The Saints are 0-11 when failing to score 60 points.
Siena will try to break its losing streak at last place Canisius Saturday at 2 p.m.
