Kenny Hasbrouck (6'3''-G-86) shook off a nagging calf injury and a terrible
first half to score 19 points in leading Siena to defend its Metro Atlantic
Athletic Conference tournament title with a 77-70 win over Niagara on Monday
night. Ryan
Rossiter (6'9''-F-89) added 16 points and 14 rebounds as the Saints (26-7)
clinched their program's fifth NCAA tournament berth. Siena also completed its
season with a 17-0 record on its home court, and extended its win streak to 21
dating to last season.
Tyrone Lewis (6'0''-G-87) scored 22 for the Purple Eagles (26-8), who will
be left to settle for an NIT berth. Niagara lost for only the second time in 14
games and squandered an opportunity to match a school single-season record for
wins.
As the final buzzer sounded, a throng of green and gold Saints supporters rushed
the floor and carried Hasbrouck away with them in a frenzied celebration.
It was a fitting end for Hasbrouck, because all eyes were on him before tipoff
after the MAAC Player of the Year hurt his right calf in the Saints' 80-65 win
over Fairfield on Sunday. Hasbrouck didn't take part in the team's shootaround
earlier in the day, but he looked limber during the pregame warmup.
It took a while, though, to find his range as Hasbrouck went 1-of-10 for two
points in the first half.
The second half was a different story as Hasbrouck went 7-for-11 for 17 points,
nine of which came during a decisive 13-1 run that put the Saints ahead 63-51
with five minutes left. Hasbrouck started the run by hitting a 16-footer to
break a 50-all tie.
The key series of plays came on Siena's next possession when Saints forward
Edwin
Ubiles (6'6''-G/F-86) missed a shot off the side of the rim, and Rossiter
dived into the Siena bench, tipping the ball back in play. Hasbrouck completed
the possession with an underhanded shot from 6-feet off.
Siena set a school record for single-season wins at the Division I level. The
Saints also bounced back from a 100-85 loss at Niagara on Feb. 27. Siena also
won the rematch of the 2007 championship game, after a 83-79 loss to Niagara.
The tournament was played in the Saints home arena, a place where they haven't
lost since Feb. 16, 2008, when they dropped an 83-76 overtime decision Loyola,
Md.
The game was close through 30 minutes, though the Saints never lost the lead
after Ubiles completed a three-point play to put Siena ahead 20-19 with 9:23
left in the first half as part of a 18-3 run.
Benson Egemonye scored 10 points and added 10 rebounds for the Purple Eagles,
who dropped to 2-4 in MAAC championship games. Niagara was attempting to earn
its fourth NCAA berth and third in five years.
McCaffery
