SAINTS MOVE UP TO FIRST
Highlight-reel dunk, foul shot by Camper help Siena top Jaspers
Jalen Pickett and the Saints draw even with Monmouth for the top spot in the MAAC by taking down Manhattan with 54.2 percent shooting.
Manny Camper broke Manhattan’s relentless pressure, drove to the basket and took off in the lane, just before the “MAAC” logo.
Jaspers forward Warren
Williams, who is 6-foot-9, tried to meet the 6-7 Camper at the rim. Too late.
Camper dunked on Williams and got fouled for the biggest highlight play of Siena basketball’s season in a 74-69 victory over Manhattan at UHY Center on Friday that launched the Saints into a tie for first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Camper’s eye-opening threepoint play gave the Saints a 64-54 lead with 5:37 left, part of a sizzling second half in which the Saints shot 12-for-19 from the field. They finished at 54.2 percent for the game.
“They were pressing, I believe,” Camper said of the play. “We got out in transition. I was able to get (Williams) turning a little bit. My sophomore year Manny came out a little bit. My legs felt good, I jumped and I was able to finish the play.”
While sophomore year Manny
Camper might have been more athletic, senior year Manny Camper continued his drive toward a likely MAAC Player of the Year Award. He had 14 points and six rebounds.
The Saints put four scorers in double figures. Jordan King led the way with 16 points, Jackson Stormo had 13 points and Jalen Pickett added 12 points and five assists.
Siena (10-3 overall, 10-3
MAAC) moved into a tie for first place with idle Monmouth (10-7, 10-6). The Saints have the tiebreaker based on their regularseason sweep of the Hawks. Siena has three regular-season games left with a rematch at 7 p.m. Saturday against Manhattan.
“Yeah, coach (Carmen Maciariello) told us before the game we control our own destiny,” Camper said. “Knowing if we win out, we can get the first seed, that’s what we worked so hard for. From the very first practice, our goal was to continue to come back and win first seed and go to the MAAC championship and, of course, win there. It means a lot to get first seed. We’ve got to continue to lock in day by day and get better.”
The Saints played the second half basically with six players after losing freshman guard Aidan Carpenter to an apparent right ankle injury. Siena graduate guard Nick Hopkins missed his second game with a lower right leg injury. He was on crutches.
“I have no idea,” Maciariello said of Carpenter’s status. “Aidan’s seeing the doctor right now. But it’s a fact of the business we’re in and it’s got to be the next man up.”
Siena was waiting on test results for Hopkins, a Belmont transfer who was in the starting lineup before getting hurt against Niagara last Saturday.
“I don’t know if we’ll have Nick back or not,” Maciariello said. “Could be out for the year? Sure. Could he be playing in a week? Probably. Can he play tomorrow? I’m not sure if he’s playing tomorrow.”
Siena held a 37-29 halftime lead and never relinquished it in the second half. Manhattan got no closer than four (73-69) in the final seconds.
Siena surpassed 70 points for the first time since a 74-72 victory at Rider on Jan. 16.
“I think we played good today,” King said. “But we can’t just be satisfied with a win. We’ve got another game tomorrow against them. Coach talked about how we won the first seven rounds (four-minute segments) and lost the last three. We’ve got to finish games more completely.”
Freshman forward Colin Golson gave the Saints a lift with eight points off the bench in 25 minutes. He made a big 3-pointer to hold Manhattan at bay after the Jaspers had closed to within 52-47 with 10 minutes remaining.
“For Colin, I think that was a big step for him,’’ Maciariello said. “With these young guys, they’ve never seen what Manhattan’s all about and how they pressure and how they change
defenses. So I was proud of that.”
Ant Nelson led Manhattan with 27 points on 11-for-16 shooting, but Siena was in control while leading for the final 33 minutes.
“I think it started with our practice at the beginning of the week,” Camper said. “We came out focused . ... We knew they were going to come out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm wanting to beat us and punch us in the mouth. That was the approach we took, and we handled the pressure and physicality well.”