Final Stats

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ -- If Siena and Monmouth are to meet again in the MAAC Tournament next week in Albany, it should be one heck of a matchup. Reigning MAAC Player of the Year Justin Robinson hit the decisive step back jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining on his Senior Night to propel the regular season champion Hawks past the Saints 77-73 in front of a sold out crowd of 4,172 at the OceanFirst Bank Center.

By virtue of Siena's (14-16, 11-8) loss coupled with other league results Friday night, the Saints locked themselves into the No. 4 vs. No. 5 MAAC Quarterfinal game next Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. at the Times Union Center. Siena can secure the No. 4 seed with a win over Marist on Senior Day Sunday, or with a Canisius loss vs. Saint Peter's. The Saints will face either Canisius or Fairfield in the quarterfinals. The Golden Griffins swept the regular season series from Siena, whereas the Saints took both meetings from the Stags.

Meanwhile Monmouth (25-5, 17-2) extended the nation's third longest active winning streak to 15 straight. The Hawks have already long secured the No. 1 seed, setting up a potential rematch with the Saints in the MAAC Semifinals next Sunday if both were to win their quarterfinal bouts.

Friday's potential preview on the Jersey Shore lived up to everything it was billed to be at the beginning of the year, when Monmouth and Siena were projected to finish first and second, respectively, according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Although the Hawks led for nearly 30 minutes, the contest featured eight ties and 15 lead changes and neither side led by more than two possessions over the final 14:41.

The Saints took their final lead at 63-60 following a three by sophomore guard Nico Clareth with 6:42 remaining. But the Hawks responded with a 13-4 run over 4:38 to reclaim a 73-67 advantage with 1:57 to play. Siena scored on each of its next two possessions to rally within 73-71 with 41.7 seconds to go, but Robinson and the Hawks would not be denied as they improved to 13-1 at home.

The frontrunner to repeat as MAAC Player of the Year, Robinson led all scorers with 20 hard earned points. After erupting for a career-high 40 points in the first meeting between the teams 11 days ago in Albany, Robinson shot just 6-18 from the field and was quiet for most of the night thanks to a superb defensive effort by the Saints.

Je'lon Hornbeak and Collin Stewart added 13 points apiece for Monmouth which is receiving two votes in this week's AP Top-25 Poll, and entered play with an RPI of 44.

Senior Lavon Long led four players in double figures with 18 points on 7-11 shooting for Siena which saw its longest road winning streak in seven years snapped at four straight. Senior guard Marquis Wright contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, Clareth added 16 off the bench, and red-shirt senior forward Brett Bisping tallied his 11th double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The Saints wrap up regular season action with Sunday's men's and women's doubleheader at the Times Union Center. The women open play at 1 p.m. vs. Iona, followed by the men's matchup vs. the rival Red Foxes at 4 p.m. Just prior to tip-off, Siena will honor its five-member senior class as well as the team's two senior managers.