ALBANY, NY – If the first game of the New Year is any indication, 2025 is shaping up to be a fun year for Siena Basketball. The Saints erased a six-point deficit with 43.2 seconds remaining in regulation to rally past Manhattan 103-95 in a double overtime MAAC classic at MVP Arena to secure the program's milestone 800^th Division I victory.
 
A resurgent Siena (7-7, 2-1) offense placed five in double figures for the second straight game while eclipsing the century mark in scoring for the first time in six years. The Saints accumulated the program's highest single-game point total in a quarter century dating back to a 107-91 win vs. Fordham on Dec. 23, 2000.
 
The dynamic backcourt of Major Freeman and Justice Shoats led the way with 24 points apiece for Siena which improved to a stellar 27-9 (.750) all-time in MAAC home openers. Freeman added seven rebounds and tallied his milestone 100^th collegiate made three, while Shoats finished just an assist shy of a second straight double-double, dishing out nine dimes.
 
Manhattan (6-6, 1-2) also placed five in double figures in the barn burner, with reserve Devin Dinkins leading all scorers with 26 points. Two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Will Sydnor added a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to go along with four blocks for the Jaspers which saw their three-game road win streak snapped.
 
Manhattan got off to a hot start, doubling up Siena to lead by as many as 13 early at 26-13 at the 10:55 mark. The Jaspers shot 54% in the first half, including 6-10 from three.
 
But the Saints connected at a 51% clip themselves while making seven first half threes to quickly claw back into it, and took their first lead of the evening on a Peter Carey put back at the buzzer to claim a 43-42 advantage at the break. Carey finished with career-highs of 21 points and eight rebounds on 8-12 shooting.
 
Manhattan scored the first seven of the second half to quickly go back up by six, but the entirety of the stanza was played within two possessions. The Jaspers went back up by six at 78-72 on a pair of Dinkins free throws with 43.2 seconds left to push Siena to the brink.
 
But the Saints scored quickly on the ensuing possession, then forced a backcourt steal, and Freeman completed an old-fashioned three-point play to make it just a one-point game at 78-77 with 23.2 seconds to go. After Dinkins followed by missing the second of two free throws – he finished 10-11 from the line – Freeman grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and sank the tying foul shots at the other end to make it 79-all with 16.8 ticks left. Manhattan had the final shot of regulation, but the Saints held the fort to force their third overtime game of the season.
 
Siena twice led by four in the first overtime, but the Jaspers scored the final four – including the tying basket by Jaden Winston with 10.9 seconds remaining – to force a second extra session with the game knotted at 87 apiece.  
 
After Manhattan scored on the first possession of double overtime, Gavin Doty took over for the Saints. The freshman gave Siena the lead for good with a three on the ensuing possession, and then connected for a second, huge triple to extend the lead to 96-91 with 1:33 remaining. The Saints wouldn't look back from there as they improved to a perfect 3-0 in overtime contests this season.
 
Doty came off the bench to score 14 of his 19 points in the overtime periods – including 10 in the final extra session – while adding a career-high 11 rebounds for Siena which held a +9 (48-39) advantage on the glass against the MAAC's top rebounding team. The Saints also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, fueling a 27-8 advantage in second chance points.
 
Marcus Jackson rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high three blocks for Siena which snapped a three-game home losing streak against the Jaspers. Three of the past seven meetings now between the rivals have been decided in overtime.
 
The Saints will have little time to both savor and recover from the 50-minute marathon victory with another rivalry matchup on the horizon just a day and a half away. Siena will seek a sweep of its three-game week to bookend the New Year when they host archrival Iona Sunday at 2 p.m. at MVP Arena.
 
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.