Final Stats

If the last five weeks of the season are anything like Friday night's game, Siena fans have plenty to look forward to. Emmy Andujar scored 20 points and made four free throws in the final 1:07 to help defending MAAC champion Manhattan sneak past inspired Siena 87-79 Friday night in a thrilling MAAC contest in Riverdale.

Lavon Long led five Saints in double figures with a career-high 20 points.

"It was a great Friday night MAAC game," Siena coach Jimmy Patsos said. "It came down to the last four minutes and we have to execute better. We continue to get better, but that was a great basketball game. We've made great strides, we just said `Siena Pride' in (the lockerroom). If we play like that the rest of the year everything will be fine for us."

Manhattan led 81-79 after Long made two free throws with 2:05 to play, but after Donovan Kates made 1-2 foul shots for the Jaspers, Evan Hymes misfired on consecutive trips and the Jaspers made the Saints pay at the foul line.

Both teams lit up the 6th Borough, especially from distance. Siena made 9-16 three-pointers and Manhattan connected 9-15. The Jaspers shot 54% from the field, including 61% in the second half, but Siena stayed within striking range all night.

Both teams placed five players in double figures.

Siena turned the ball over 22 times against Manhattan's ferocious press, but forced 16 miscues with its attacking defense. The Jaspers made 28-39 free throws, compared to 18-24 for Siena. Javion Ogunyemi, Long and Wright all fouled out, and Poole played the final 17 minutes with four fouls.

Jimmy Paige provided a spark off the bench, scoring a career-best 10 points in 22 minutes. Poole had 14 points and made 4-7 three-pointers, while Hymes and Wright each finished with 12. Ogunyemi scored eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He left the game early in the second half with cramps before returning briefly and fouling out.

The Jaspers have won eight of their last 10 games and looked every bit the part of a team picked third and poised to defend its championship. But Siena looked the part too, bouncing back from a stagnant effort in a home loss to Saint Peter's Sunday. The question now becomes how will the Saints respond moving forward, starting Monday night when upstart Rider visits Times Union Center? That's a question that's been tough to answer all season, and one that may became even tougher Friday night.