Freshman Send Saints to Hall of Fame Tip-Off Championship Game

UNCASVILLE, CT (AP) >> Siena Basketball is headed to the Springfield Bracket Championship Game after fending off Norfolk State 61-58 at Mohegan Sun Arena in the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame TipOff presented by Citi. Freshman Sloan Seymour led the way with 14 points and classmate Jalen Pickett added 12 highlighted by a pair of clutch threes down the stretch for the Saints which are off to the program’s first 2-1 start in seven years.

Seymour and Pickett each made four threes apiece for Siena which connected for 11 more triples. The Saints have made 10 or more threes in each game so far this season, marking the first time the program has reached double figures in triples in three consecutive games since doing so in four straight from Jan. 1525, 2001.

Pickett stuffed the stat sheet with four rebounds, four assists, and three steals for Siena which improved to 6-2 all-time vs. the MEAC. Evan Fisher chipped in 13 points for the Saints who were playing their first opponent from that conference in 19 years.

Derrik Jamerson scored a game-high 15 points off the bench for Norfolk State (2-3) which was playing its fifth game in 10 days to open the season. Jordan Butler tallied 13 points and nine rebounds and Steven Whitley added 10 points for the Spartans which held a 3210 advantage in points in the paint and a 14-2 margin in fast break scoring. POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) >> Anthony Lawrence threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns and San Diego completed its third straight undefeated Pioneer Football League regular season with a 31-14 victory over Marist on Saturday.

Lawrence was 21-of-27 passing and snapped a tie for the Toreros’ career record for touchdown passes with 116.

Michael Bandy had five catches for 127 yards to become USD’s single-season receiving yards record holder at 1,554.

Lawrence threw short touchdown passes to Dominic Graziani and Emilio Martinez for a 24-0 halftime lead. Martinez also ran for a touchdown in the first quarter. Lawrence made it 31-0 with a 56-yard pass to Michael Armstead in the third quarter.