By Paul Gotham
Setting: Metro-Atlantic action at the Gallagher Center tonight as Joe Mihalich’s Niagara Purple Eagles (13-13/ 6-8) host Fran McCaffery’s Siena Saints (21-4/ 14-0).
Plot: Four games remain on the MAAC ledger. The Siena are looking to run the table. The Purple Eagles want to get above .500.
Sub-plot: Siena brings the nation’s longest winning streak (15) to the Gallagher. The two teams have won four of the last five conference championships. Since the MAAC expanded to its current lineup in 1997-98, these two schools rank one and two in league wins.
Both teams have plenty of experience. Siena starts three seniors and two juniors. Niagara goes with four seniors and a junior.
Flashback: Edwin Ubiles dropped 25 and Alex Franklin added 20 as Siena beat Niagara earlier this year, 83-65. Siena leads the all-time series, 41-40, but Niagara holds a 24-12 advantage at home.The Purple Eagles handed the Saints their last conference loss a year ago at the Gallagher.
Niagara has made three NCAA Tournament appearances (‘70, ‘05, ‘07). The Purple Eagles reached the Sweet Sixteen in 1970. Siena has earned consecutive berths to the tournament and won a game each year. Last year, Siena held a four-point advantage on Louisville with seven minutes remaining before bowing 79-72.
Foreshadowing: Eleven Purple Eagles have graduated to the National Basketball Association, including hall-of-famer, Calvin Murphy. Siena has had six former players taken in the N.B.A. draft.
Conflict: Siena has won 40 in a row when holding opponents under 70 points. Niagara averages 71.6 per contest. Siena will use a run-and-jump from time to time. Niagara starts three senior guards.
Alex Franklin (16.2) leads four Saints in double figures. Ryan Rossiter averages a double-double (14.1ppg and 10.5rpg). Edwin Ubiles and Clarence Jackson add 15 and 13 points respectively for McCaffery’s Saints.
Ronald Moore leads the nation with eight assists per game.
Four other Saints average double figure minutes off the bench. Kyle Downey, O.D. Anosike, Owen Wignot, and Kyle Griffin combine for 13 points and seven and a half rebounds.
Tyrone Lewis leads Niagara with 16 points a game. The senior has hit 57 three pointers on the season. Villanova transfer, Bilal Benn, gets 13 points and 9.8 boards per contest. Rob Garrison scores 10 points and four rebounds for the Purple Eagles.
Anthony Nelson adds 10 points and dishes out five per night for Mihalich’s crew.
Demetrius Williamson rounds out the starting five with nine points and 4.4 rebounds.
Kashief Edwards and Austin Cooley come off the bench. The pair combine for 12 points and five rebounds.
Resolution: Injuries have kept Niagara from finding their rhythm all season. Mihalich finally his lineup set. Siena’s defenses will not surprise Niagara’s experienced back-court. The Purple Eagles need a victory and tonight’s opportunity should galvanize this team. With the game televised on ESPN2, Siena’s fifteen game win streak will end tonight.
Got any comments on the game? Post them here.
Two guys I like from Siena and ashamed to say I don’t know their names. The PG (Moore?) and the big goofy white guy. Uses his body so well and has a knack for the ball. The PG makes some great passes in transitions around the paint area.
Moore does a great job of keeping his dribble alive. He gets into the tiniest of seams and manages to come out with his dribble alive.
I learned something last night while watching Rossiter play post defense. He plays behind in the post. As the ball was in flight he took a step back to remove contact. The player now does not know which way to move. As the opponent made his move, Rossiter was better prepared to adjust.
Of course, this was all for not as Siena pressed waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy too much last night. After Niagara’s second long and opposite pass, the Saints should have retreated to half-court man to man.