Nov. 23, 2016
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ALBANY, NY -- Siena Basketball opened the game on an 18-2 run and never looked back in a convincing 66-43 triumph over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the final game of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic at the Times Union Center. The Saints' limited the Golden Lions to just 26.4% shooting, while posting the program's best defensive scoring effort in a decade.
All 12 active players saw action and 11 scored in a complete team effort for Siena (2-3). Senior guard/forward Lavon Long led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, while classmate Javion Ogunyemi added 11 points for the Saints which shot an even 50% from the floor.
Meanwhile Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-4) missed its first 14 shots, before Ghiavonni Robinson connected on the Golden Lions' first field goal of the night with 8:38 remaining in the first half. Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot just 4-27 (14.8%) from the floor in the opening stanza, as Siena took a commanding 31-13 lead at the break.
The 13 first half points allowed by the Saints marked the program's fewest surrendered in any half, since giving up 12 in the first half of a 73-59 win vs. Saint Peter's on Jan. 13, 2002. Moreover, Long matched the Golden Lions' scoring output in the first half, leading the Saints with 13 points.
Siena would build as much as a 28-point cushion in the second half in cruising to the victory. The 43 points allowed marked the program's fewest since bequeathing a Division I record low 40 in a 64-40 victory at NJIT on Nov. 27, 2006.
Senior guard Marquis Wright contributed eight points, and red-shirt senior Brett Bisping added six points and eight rebounds for the Saints which won handily despite committing 20 turnovers and being held without a three for the first time in 221 games, dating back to Jan. 2, 2010 against Mount St. Mary's. The Saints did however hold a +12 advantage on the glass (40-28), and outscored Arkansas-Pine Bluff 34-18 in the paint in an otherwise dominating performance.
The Golden Lions were held without a double-figure scorer as Trent Steen paced Arkansas-Pine Bluff with nine points while Robinson added eight off the bench.
The Saints will enjoy a brief holiday respite before squarely turning their attention towards the annual Albany Cup showdown Sunday. Siena is set to travel to crosstown rival UAlbany for a 7 p.m. tip at SEFCU Arena.