Feb. 27, 2014
Final Stats
Jimmy Patsos promised Siena fans an entertaining product. Boy, has he delivered. Rob Poole's three-point play with 33 seconds left after an offensive rebound, propelled Siena to a massive 72-70 road win at Quinnipiac Thursday night. The Saints are now a win away from a bye in next weekend's MAAC Championships.
It was the eighth game in the last nine that was decided in the final 1:30 of regulation or overtime, and Siena has figured out how to win the close ones.
Poole, held scoreless in the first half, finished off the decisive four-point possession after MAAC Rookie of the Week Lavon Long missed the second of two free throws. The Saints then forced an Evan Conti three-pointer, and after Long grabbed the rebound he calmly sank two free throws to push the lead to 72-69 with seven seconds left. After a Quinnipiac timeout, Imoh Silas fouled Justin Harris with 1.8 seconds left in a scrum for a loose ball. Harris missed the first free throw, and banked home the second. Long launched the ball to midcourt where Brett Bisping deflected it as the clock expired.
Bisping had 14 points and 10 rebounds, with eight of those boards coming in the second half.
The victory avenged a 103-95 overtime loss at Quinnipiac in Albany February 1.
Ike Azotam (15 points and 12 rebounds) and Ousmane Drame (12 points and 10 rebounds) each had double-doubles for Quinnipiac. The Bobcats out-rebounded the Saints 45-37, but that margin got slimmer as the game wore on.
Siena forced 16 turnovers and out-scored the Bobcats 17-5 off miscues and 10-0 in fast break points.
Poole scored all 15 of his points in the second half for Siena, pulling within just three of 1,000. Long had 13 points and Ryan Oliver had another solid outing with 11 points and five rebounds.
Despite the four players in double figures, Evan Hymes had as big an impact on the game as any player. Hymes had six points, five assists and no turnovers and his energy kept Siena within striking distance in the first half.
Quinnipiac led just 34-33 at the half despite controlling most of the action. The Saints closed the half on their second 7-0 run, taking momentum to the lockerroom.
Siena would clinch the No. 5 seed with a win over Monmouth Sunday at Times Union Center. Siena could even lock up the first round bye if Marist and Rider both lose Friday night. A win would give the Saints their first four-game win streak of the season heading into the conference championship.
