LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Following a pair of excruciating final-second losses at the hands of Rider last year – including to end the season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament – Siena Basketball secured the redemption it sought Sunday afternoon. Gavin Doty capped a monster weekend with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists as the Saints defeated the Broncs 74-65 at Alumni Gymnasium.
 
Justice Shoats scored 13 of his 14 points in the first half for Siena (10-5, 3-1), which snapped a three-game losing streak to salvage its season-long four-game road trip. Antonio Chandler added his second double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, including seven of the Saints season-high tying 18 offensive rebounds. As a result, Siena held an 18-7 advantage in second chance points, and was +16 (42-26) on the glass overall, rebounding exceptionally well out of a zone defense.
 
Zion Cruz scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half for Rider (1-12, 0-4), which has now dropped 10 straight and remain winless against Division I opponents so far this season. Flash Burton chipped in 17 points for the Broncs who shot just 4-22 (18%) from three against the zone. Rider entered the day last nationally in made threes per game (4.3) and second-to-last in three-point percentage (.256).
 
Siena led for more than 32 minutes and took the lead for good following an 18-6 spurt down the stretch to claim as much as an 11-point first half lead in the final minute of the stanza. The Saints led 40-31 at the break.
 
Rider rallied within four early in the second half, but Siena responded with seven straight to push the lead back to double figures at 49-38 with 14:33 remaining. The Saints shot an even 50% in the second half to secure as much as a 19-point cushion down the stretch and improve to a perfect 5-0 in afternoon starts so far this season.
 
Following their month-long road trip, Siena finally returns to play in the Capital Region for the first time in 32 days next week. The Saints begin a stretch where they play four of their next six at MVP Arena when they host first-place Merrimack (5-0) on Friday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.