Final Stats

Eric Paschall blocked Brett Bisping's potential game-tying layup as time expired and Fordham held off a furious late Siena rally, 69-67, Monday night in the Bronx. The loss spoiled a brilliant effort by Siena point guard Marquis Wright, who finished with a career-high 31 points.

"I couldn't be prouder of my team for fighting back, and I couldn't be prouder of Marquis," Siena coach Jimmy Patsos said. "(He) played as well as anyone I've seen at the point guard position, and I've coached a lot of great point guards."

Fordham led by as many as 13 in the second half, and 56-45 with 9:51 remaining, before Wright led the Saints back. A 10-2 run pulled Siena within 58-53 on Wright's layup with 6:27 left. The Saints got within two points three times in the final four minutes, and within one after Wright sunk two free throws with 12 seconds left, but they could never tie or take the lead.

Antwoine Anderson missed the second of two free throws after Wright fouled out with nine seconds to play giving Siena a chance to tie or win on the game's final possession. Patrick Cole, who provided a spark with seven points off the bench, raced the length of the floor and made a beautiful pass to Bisping as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Bisping went up immediately, but Paschall came from behind to reject the Saints' final opportunity.

Paschall led the Rams with 19 points. Anderson and Mandell Thomas each had 18.

Fordham led 30-23 at halftime thanks to an eight minute and 33 second Siena scoring drought.

Siena took an 18-10 lead on Bisping's 3-pointer with 11:53 remaining in the half, but didn't score again until Wright's layup with 3:20 on the clock.

In the meantime, Fordham went on a 16-0 run to take a 26-18 advantage.

After starting 7 of 14 from the field, Siena shot 2 of 18 from the floor the remainder of the half.

"I am trying everything I can to get this team to play 40 minutes and forget about last year's CBI Championship," Patsos said.

The loss snapped a mini two-game win streak for Siena which has played three Atlantic 10 teams in its first five games. The Saints return to Times Union Center for the first time since November 14 when they host Quinnipiac in their MAAC opener Friday at 7 p.m. It's the annual Gold Rush game as well as Northwestern Mutual Saints Academic Appreciation Night.