ITHACA, NY – Siena Basketball achieved arguably its best all-around offensive performance of the season – and neutralized its opponent's strengths – to post an impressive 83-77 road victory over perennial Ivy League contender Cornell at Newman Arena in the non-conference finale and final game of 2024.
 
Justice Shoats paced a balanced offensive attack featuring five double figure scorers for the first time since the final game of last season. The junior transfer achieved his first Siena (6-7, 1-1) double-double with 16 points and a collegiate career-high tying 10 assists, becoming the first Saint to dish out double digit dimes since Jalen Pickett on Mar. 6, 2020.
 
Offensively, Siena erupted for its highest regulation scoring output dating back to a 93-88 win at Niagara on Jan. 15, while shooting a stellar 54% from the field including 8-19 from three. The Saints scored 81 points in regulation in an eventual 90-88 overtime win at Bryant on Nov. 8.
 
Meanwhile, despite allowing 77 points on an equal 54% shooting, the Saints completely took offensive juggernaut Cornell (7-5) out of its game. The Big Red shot just 4-12 from three, while registering 13 assists to 17 turnovers. A 22-win team from a year ago with a road win earlier this month at ACC foe California, Cornell entered play ranked 11^th nationally in three-point attempts (30.8) and 20^th in makes (10.6), while standing second in the country in assists (19.8) and 24^th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.64).
 
Siena turned the 17 Cornell turnovers into 22 points, routinely getting out and scoring on the break. The Saints, which entered play with the third fewest fast break points nationally (3.33), scored a season-high 17, ten better than their previous high which came last time out.
 
Siena showed no signs of a holiday hangover following a season-long 10-day break, racing out to a 12-2 start just 2:41 in. The Big Red responded with eight of the next 10, and it was nip-and-tuck the rest of the first half. The teams played to a 35-all deadlock at the break, the fourth time in the first 13 games in which Siena has entered the half tied.
 
The Saints opened the second half much like the first, scorching the Big Red for 20 points in the first 5:55. Siena capped the deluge with nine unanswered to claim their biggest lead of the day at 13 points at 55-42 with 14:05 remaining.
 
But Cornell, which shot 59% in the second half, slowly chipped away and ultimately rallied to within as close as two at 78-76 with 1:50 left. Cooper Noard made one of two free throws to make it a two-point game once again at 79-77 with 16.2 seconds to go, but freshman Gavin Doty stepped up to seal the final victory of the calendar year and send the Saints into 2025 with momentum.
 
Playing in front of nearly 250 family and friends, the Fulton native calmly sank four straight free throws in the waning seconds to ice it. Doty finished with 16 points off the bench on 6-8 shooting, including a clutch 6-6 from the charity stripe, while adding eight rebounds.
 
Brendan Coyle also tallied 16 off his own – 13 of which came in the second half. Peter Carey and Major Freeman rounded out the double figure scorers with 13 apiece for the Saints.
 
Nazir Williams led four in double figures for the Big Red, scoring 16 of his 20 in the second half before fouling out down the stretch. Guy Ragland, Jr. added 12 of his 14 in the second half as well on a perfect 5-5 shooting.
 
Siena returns to the friendly confines of MVP Arena to tip-off 2025 with a home MAAC weekend against longtime conference rivals. The Saints are set to ring in the New Year vs. Manhattan Friday at 7 p.m. at MVP Arena, before welcoming arch-nemesis Iona to the Capital Region Sunday at 2 p.m. to conclude a busy three-game holiday week.
 
This postgame recap is proudly presented by The Brothers that just do Gutters, a proud partner of Siena Athletics. Trust the team that always comes through – on the court and for your home.