LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Siena Basketball will head into a season long four-game homestand riding a wave of momentum thanks to its most successful road stretch in a decade. Kadeem Smithen scored a season-high 16 points and added six rebounds and four key steals as Siena edged reigning MAAC Regular Season Co-Champion and unanimous preseason favorite Rider 59-57 at Alumni Gymnasium.

Evan Fisher tallied a game-high 21 points and added eight rebounds for Siena (13-12, 8-4) which has won four straight to match the program's longest winning streak since reeling off five in a row from Feb. 26 – Mar. 8, 2010. Jalen Pickett contributed eight points and six assists for the Saints which secured their seventh true road win to mark the program's most road victories since winning nine during the 2009-10 season.

Tyere Marshall scored 19 points for reeling Rider (12-12, 7-5) which all of a sudden has dropped four straight including consecutive games at the Broncs Zoo in less than 48 hours following a program record-tying 17-game home winning streak.

Siena trailed for only 24 seconds and led by as much as 10 in earning its fifth win in its last six road contests. The Saints, which led 33-32 at the break following an 11-2 Rider run to end the half, claimed their final 10-point advantage at 46-36 with 13:48 remaining. The Broncs responded with a 13-3 spurt to draw even at 49-all with 8:14 left, before tying the game one final time at 57 apiece with two minutes remaining.

But Siena's stellar defense took command down the stretch. Manny Camper and Smithen connected for the go-ahead free throws in the final minute, and the Saints forced Rider to miss their final seven shots – including three in the last six seconds – as Siena earned its seventh win in its past 10 meetings with the Broncs.

Overall, the Saints held the MAAC's second highest scoring offense to a season-low 57 points on just 33.9% shooting including only 1-16 from three. Siena, which entered the day ranked 30^th nationally in scoring defense, held its 14^th straight opponent to 70 points or less to extend the program's longest such streak in 26 years.

The Saints, which entered play ranked second-to-last nationally in both free throw attempts and makes, set season-highs with 17 and 26, respectively, to secure their seventh win in eight games. Siena has lost just twice since the first week of January, with both defeats coming at the hands of current league frontrunner Monmouth whom the Saints find themselves now just a half game behind with six league contests remaining.

Siena will now look to build off its road success with a little home cooking as it opens its longest homestand of the season Wednesday night at the Times Union Center. The Saints will be in search of the regular season series sweep of three-time defending MAAC Tournament Champion Iona when the archrivals square off at 7 p.m.