ALBANY, NY – Preseason First Team All-MAAC selection Matt Balanc scored 26 points to lead Quinnipiac past Siena Basketball 82-70 at MVP Arena.
 
Reigning MAAC Player of the Week Amarri Tice complimented Balanc with 17 points for Quinnipiac (13-4, 5-1), which has won four straight and six of seven. UCONN transfer Richie Springs added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Bobcats who were +9 (43-34) on the glass. Quinnipiac, which entered play leading the MAAC in rebound margin (+5.1), grabbed 18 of their rebounds off the offensive glass, fueling a 29-13 advantage in second chance points.
 
Mason Courtney came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points on 5-7 shooting for Siena (3-14, 2-4). Sean Durugordon, who set a program Division I record with six straight 20-point performances to begin his career, was held to just 13 points on 4-15 shooting and nine rebounds.
 
The Bobcats led for all but one possession early and by as many as 15 in the first half while taking a 39-26 lead at the break. Quinnipiac pushed its advantage to as many as 21 points on several occasions in the second half.
 
The Saints scored on six straight possessions down the stretch as part of a frenetic 14-3 run over just 1:48 to pull within 10 with a minute to go, but it wasn't nearly enough. Siena, which scored 44 second half points, has now registered its four highest scoring halves of the season in each of the past four second halves, averaging 46.5 points.
 
The Saints fell for just the fifth time in 37 games under head coach Carmen Maciariello when placing four or more in double figures, as Giovanni Emejuru added 12 points on 5-6 shooting and seven rebounds, and Michael Eley chipped in 11.
 
Siena returns to action when they make the short trip down I-87 to take on MAAC rival Marist Sunday at 2 p.m. in Poughkeepsie.