BUFFALO, NY – Siena Basketball wrapped up a month-long, seven-game road trip by snapping a seven-game losing streak at the Koessler Athletic Center with a 66-53 victory over Canisius.
 
Brendan Coyle finished one rebound shy of a double-double for Siena (5-5, 0-1), which secured its first win at the Koessler Athletic Center in nearly nine years, dating back to a 99-78 victory on Jan. 24, 2016. Coyle posted a season-high 17 points powered by a career-high tying five threes, while adding a career-best nine rebounds.
 
The MAAC's second-leading scorer entering play at 18.9 points, Paul McMillan IV scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half for Canisius (0-10, 0-2).
 
The Saints raced out to a 12-2 lead within the first four minutes, but then went into a prolonged drought as the Golden Griffins responded with a 20-4 run over 12:27 to surge ahead. Siena rallied to pull back even at the break at 24-all.
 
The Saints started the second half much like the first, and this time they were mostly able to maintain the offensive momentum. Siena shot 58% in the second half and never trailed in the stanza.
 
The Saints went on an eight-point spurt over 91 seconds to open an 11-point lead at 48-37 at the midway mark. Canisius never got any closer than six thereafter, as Siena secured a split of its annual Western New York trip for the third straight season.
 
Justice Shoats paced the Saints with 18 points, while Major Freeman added 14 for Siena which snapped a nine-game losing streak vs. MAAC opposition.
 
Defensively, the Saints allowed a season-low in scoring while achieving a season-best +13 rebound margin (35-22). Siena limited Canisius, which entered the day leading the MAAC in three-point field goal attempts (25.9), to just 4-12 from distance.
 
After seven straight away from home – and a 35-day stretch between games at MVP Arena – the Saints finally return to the Capital Region following a nine-day break for final exams, when they host sister school St. Bonaventure in the annual battle for the Br. Ed Coughlin Franciscan Cup on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.

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.