Albany Times Union (Sunday)

Quick turnaround for Saints

Siena looks to avenge loss to Rider, but on one day’s rest and on road

- By Mark Singelais msingelais@timesunion.com 518-454-5509 @MarkSingel­ais

Coming off the high of a thrilling win over Iona on Friday night, the Siena men’s basketball team turns around to face the only opponent the Saints have laid an egg against recently.

The Saints play at 1 p.m. Sunday at Rider, which beat Siena 74-60 on Feb. 4 at MVP Arena, Siena’s only loss in its past six games.

“We’ve got to bring a lot more intensity, and we’ve got to treat every game the rest of the season like it was tonight (against Iona) with the way we mentally prepare and come out ready to play,” Siena senior forward Jackson Stormo said. “That’s really the key to the rest of the season, is play every game like it’s our last.”

The Saints (11-9 overall, 8-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) face the challenge of coming back from a game that didn’t end until after 11 p.m. Friday to try to win a road game with only one day’s rest.

Also, the Broncs (10-13, 6-7) are playing very well lately. They’ve won four straight games, including a 58-49 triumph on Friday at Saint Peter’s.

“I think we enjoy the (Iona) game tonight, celebrate it tonight,” Siena junior guard Colby Rogers said after Friday’s game. “We worked hard for this and it’s well-deserved. But once tomorrow hits, it’s new a game. That game’s in the past. We can’t worry about it. Just focus on Rider and game plan for that, get right for that. Get treatment, gets shots up, back to the routine of pregame and just get back to what we do.”

Siena head coach Carmen Maciariell­o said he told his players after Friday’s game they needed to hydrate and get

enough sleep so they’re not affected on Sunday. The Saints planned to get treatment in the training room from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday and then get on a bus to Lawrencevi­lle, N.J.

Then the Saints would have a walk-through practice at Rider and shoot some free throws.

Siena, currently in third place in the MAAC, is 5-0 this season when playing on a single day of rest.

“It’s a mindset, right?” Maciariell­o said. “These guys have done great on short turnaround­s and so I’m excited because I told these guys before the game, and I think Anthony (Gaines) and Jackson will attest to it, Iona didn’t see the real Siena when we were down in New Rochelle and we didn’t show up for that game against Rider, it feels like a couple of days ago. When it’s all said and done, we have a chance to go on the road and hopefully what we want to do and how we want to play.”

Gaines had 21 points and nine rebounds against Iona despite struggling with leg cramps late in the contest. He said he’s inspired by the physical sacrifices his teammates are making. Though Gaines didn’t mention names, graduate guard Nick Hopkins and freshman guard Jared Billups are both playing with a wrist and thumb heavily taped — Hopkins on his left hand and Billups on his right.

“We’ve got guys dealing with injuries who sat a game, or whatever it was,” Gaines said. “When you see your teammates fighting through injures, throwing their bodies on the line, even though some guy has a messed up thumb and or someone is trying to make plays with a hurt wrist, and you see guys fighting through injuries to win games, you thrive off that and it builds a lot of trust and chemistry on the team and that’s what starting to show. We’re coming together and becoming a great team.”

Rider has four players averaging in double figures scoring, led by graduate forward Dimencio Vaughn (13.3 ppg), who scored 24 in the earlier win over Siena.

 ?? James Franco / Special to the Times Union ?? Junior guard Colby Rogers said the Saints must quickly shift focus to Rider following their big victory over first-place Iona late Friday night.
James Franco / Special to the Times Union Junior guard Colby Rogers said the Saints must quickly shift focus to Rider following their big victory over first-place Iona late Friday night.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States