ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Siena Basketball is just one win away from its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010. On the 16^th anniversary of the last time they won the title on the court in a thriller over Fairfield, the Saints dispatched the Stags in postseason play once again. Third-seeded Siena will make its first championship game appearance in nine years following a 76-61 triumph over No. 7 seed Fairfield in the Air Force Reserve Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Semifinals at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
 
Siena (22-11) advances to its 10^th MAAC Championship Game – now tied with Fairfield (21-13) for second-most in league history – where the Saints will face regular season champion and top seed Merrimack Tuesday night at 9 p.m. back at Boardwalk Hall. The Warriors survived fifth-seeded Marist 58-57 in a semifinal earlier Sunday night. Merrimack swept the regular season series from Siena, winning 63-59 on Jan. 9 in Albany and 79-72 in overtime on Feb. 20 in North Andover.
 
The dynamic duo of Justice Shoats and Gavin Doty came up huge when it mattered most, combining for 51 points for Siena which secured its 22^nd victory, the program's most since winning 27 during that historic 2009-10 title season.
 
Shoats scored a season-high 26 points for the Sunday Saints which improved to a perfect 9-0 on the first day of the week. Shoats, who entered play with just 11 made threes all season, went a perfect 3-3 from distance to serve as an unlikely catalyst from deep for Siena which had one of its best outputs from downtown all season. The Saints, who entered the day ranked 14^th worst nationally in three-point percentage (.299) and with the 15^th fewest three-point makes (5.3), were 9-17 from distance.  
 
Doty continued his dominance of Fairfield, delivering 25 points and eight rebounds for Siena which is now a remarkable 33-5 (.868) in the MAAC Tournament as the higher seeded team. In four career games against the Stags, the sophomore is now averaging 21.8 points and 7.5 rebounds.
 
Second Team All-MAAC selection Braden Sparks led four in double figures with 13 points for Fairfield. However the Saints, which entered the day ranked 20^th nationally in scoring defense (66.2), put the clamps down on both Sparks and the Stags. Siena held Fairfield to 14 points under its season average (74.8) and limited Sparks, who entered play averaging 17.3 points and leading the MAAC with 95 made threes, to just 1-6 from distance.
 
Playing in its first MAAC Semifinal in seven years, the Saints didn't waste the opportunity. Siena scored 11 unanswered midway through the first half to claim the lead for good at 24-13 at the 9:44 mark. The Saints shot 54% in the first half including 7-11 (64%) from three to take a 40-30 lead at intermission.
 
Siena once again utilized a double-digit run midway through the second half to seize control. This time, the Saints reeled off 10 unanswered to secure a 63-48 advantage with 6:27 remaining. Siena ultimately led by as many as 18 late as the Saints improved to 8-1 all-time against Fairfield in postseason play, ironically with three of those victories coming on Mar. 8.
 
Francis Folefac rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points, nine rebounds, and a team-high five of the 18 total assists for Siena. The Saints were also +7 (41-34) on the glass against a Stags squad which entered play leading the MAAC in both rebounding (38.6) and rebound margin (+4.3).
 
Fairfield freshman standouts and unanimous MAAC All-Rookie Team selections Brandon Benjamin and Declan Wucherpfennig each recorded double-doubles for the Stags. Benjamin tallied his conference-leading 16^th double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Wucherpfennig added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Siena has now recorded 13 wins away from home this season (nine road, four neutral) – the second highest total in the program's 85-season history (15 in 1988-89) – and will need one more on Tuesday night to put on its dancing shoes for the first time in 16 years.   
 
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.