RIVERDALE, NY – Shaquil Bender and Wesley Robinson scored 15 points apiece for Manhattan which defeated Siena Basketball 78-66 in the regular season finale at Draddy Gymnasium.
 
Siena (14-17, 9-11) will be the No. 9 seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships and face eighth-seeded Rider in a First Round game Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
 
One of 15 teams nationally with five players averaging double figures, the league-leading Manhattan (17-12, 12-8) scoring offense matched their average. Will Sydnor and Masiah Gilyard tallied 12 points apiece, and reserve Fraser Roxburgh added 11 to round out the double figure scorers for the Jaspers.
 
MAAC Rookie of the Year contender Gavin Doty recorded his sixth double-double in league action with a game-high 21 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to pace the Saints in his final audition. Justice Shoats added 15 points and eight assists for Siena which shot just 34% from the field including only 5-24 from three.
 
Manhattan scored the final eight points of the first half to claim a 32-23 lead at the break. The Jaspers held the Saints, who shot just 27% (9-34) in the opening half, scoreless for the final 5:24.
 
Manhattan ultimately bridged the halves with 13 unanswered to build a 14-point lead less than a minute into the second half. The Jaspers would go on to lead by as many as 19 as Siena never got any closer than 11 thereafter in falling for the 11^th time in their last 14 trips to Draddy Gymnasium.
 
Manhattan shot 11-27 from three to surge into postseason play winners of four straight and seven of nine. The Jaspers will be the No. 5 seed and take on fourth-seeded Iona in a MAAC Quarterfinal Thursday at 6 p.m.
 
Major Freeman finished with 13 points for the Saints who've dropped seven straight true road games in the month of March dating back to 2020.
 
Siena will now look to wipe the slate clean as they prepare to battle Rider in postseason play for the first time in six years. The teams met only once during the regular season as part of the unbalanced MAAC schedule, with Rider prevailing 61-59 on a Tank Byard buzzer beater on Feb. 8 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
 
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.