ALBANY, NY – Siena Basketball cut a 19-point deficit down to as little as two in the final 30 seconds, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 63-59 setback to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference frontrunner Merrimack at MVP Arena.  
 
Ernest Shelton scored 17 points including the game-sealing free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining for surging Merrimack (10-7, 6-0) which has now won eight of their last nine. Three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Kevair Kennedy added 14 points and six assists for the Warriors.
 
Francis Folefac and Antonio Chandler each recorded double-doubles for Siena (10-6, 3-2) which held a 39-25 rebounding advantage, fueled by a season-high tying 18 offensive rebounds for the second straight game. Folefac posted career-highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Chandler added 10 points and 10 rebounds while scoring his 1,000^th collegiate point.
 
Merrimack scored 17 unanswered midway through the first half to claim as much as a 19-point advantage at 29-10 with 5:24 remaining. The Warriors patented zone defense held the Saints scoreless for 7:28 in the opening stanza, and claimed a 38-22 lead at the break. Merrimack shot 54% in the first half, while Siena connected at just a 31% clip.
 
But the Saints flipped the shooting script in the second half to cue the comeback. Siena shot 52% in the final stanza to the Warriors 32%.
 
Gavin Doty scored all 14 of his points in the second half, and capped a 13-3 run with a huge three to rally the Saints all the way back within just two at 60-58 with 25.2 seconds to go. Following a Merrimack free throw, Siena had a chance to tie after being fouled on a three with 4.1 seconds left, but could only connect on 1-3 free throws while Shelton answered with a pair to ice it.
 
Reserve KC Ugwuakazi contributed 12 points and eight rebounds (six offensive) off the bench for the Warriors which shot 9-20 from three as compared to just 4-16 for the Saints in a four-point final.
 
Justice Shoats rounded out four double figure scorers with 10 points for Siena which was making its first appearance at MVP Arena in 32 days.
 
The Saints continue a busy stretch of six games in 14 days when they make the trek to Maryland to take on defending MAAC Tournament Champion Mount St. Mary's Sunday at 2 p.m.