Welcome to the live blog for the first home game of the Siena Saints’ 2009-2010 college basketball season! For those of you not able to make it to the Times Union Center, we’ve got a live blog!
Here we go:
- Recap – Check back shortly for the offical sienasaintsblog postgame recap!
- End of Game – It’s over! Siena goes 2-0 by defeating a tough Huskies opponent 59-53.
- 10 seconds. 58-51 Siena is ahead, but Northeastern is definitely keeping it interesting with yet another big basket.
- 16 seconds - After two more clutch Moore free-throws, Northeastern is forced to foul Ubiles. The fans at the TUC are starting to feel a victory in hand.
- 44 seconds – Moore is intentially fouled and puts the Saints up by 10 with the free-throws…that is until Northeastern answers back once again with a 3-pointer. 55-48 with 39 seconds left in the game.
- 1:10 – 51-45 still. Rossiter is fouled hard and goes to the line where he: sinks both…clutch. 53-45.
- 2:45 – TV timeout: 51-45 Siena. Every time Siena appears to be about to lead by double-digits Northeastern responds with a clutch 3-pointer or defensive stand. This is a very experienced Huskies squad.
- 4:03 – After a big 3-pointer by Ubiles (now with 25 points) Rossiter hits an and-1 basket and swishes the free-throw. 51-42 Siena.
- 5:19 – 45-40 Siena still leads following a questionable 3-seconds in the paint call against Rossiter.
- 7:37 – TV timeout: 43-37 Siena. Both teams seem to be getting into a groove offensively. Northeastern just won’t go away; there’s a lot of fight in this team. Hopefully the Saints can come up with some quick transition baskets after the timeout to extend their lead out of the Huskies’ reach.
- 8:32 – Moore is fouled to send the Huskies into the 1-and-1 bonus. He misses the free throw. 41-35 Siena lead.
- 9:56 – Siena’s lead shrinks slightly to 38-33.
- 11:26 – TV Timeout: Was that Clarence Jackson? Nope! That was C Ryan Rossiter sinking the 3-pointer to extend Siena’s lead to 38-29.
- 12:23 - Timeout Northeastern: 36-29 Saints ahead. Siena needed Ubiles to step up with a strong performance in this game and he has responded. He has 17 points so far and he clearly been the best offensive player on the court.
- 13:39 – Timeout Northeastern: 34-29 Siena leads. As usual defensive pressure is leading to great offensive opportunities for the Saints.
- 14:13 – Another huge block by Jackson to prevent a Huskies’ layup, which quickly leads to an and-1 bucket by Rossiter who sinks the free-throw. 32-29 Siena.
- 15:35 – Franklin hits a reverse layup to give Siena their first lead since scoring the first points of the game. After a made Rossiter free-throw it is now 29-27 Siena ahead!
- 15:47 – TV timeout: Northeastern’s lead is down to one: 27-26. Half court defensive has been creating some fast-break points for the Saints. The TUC is beginning to get louder and louder with each Siena basket.
- 17:14 – 27-24 Northeastern ahead.
- Halftime - Little tidbit: Sean MacDonough and Bill Raferty are calling today’s game for ESPN.
- Halftime – Siena band is playing When the Saints Come Marching In as the team comes out for halftime warmups – by far the best song the band plays during games.
- Halftime – The Saints started out lethargic again today, let’s hope this doesn’t turn into a regular thing this season, but saved face toward the end of half. Poor shooting has really plauged the team thus far, so hopefully they’ll be able to turn it on next half. The Huskies have been breaking the Saints’ full court press pretty effectively, but at least it hasn’t lead to any easy baskets. Ubiles leads all scorers with 13 points and Allen Chaisson leads Northeastern with 7 points. So far both teams seem to be trying to feel one another out and find a rhythm. This looks like it is going to be a close game, but the Saints really need to take advantage of the first four minutes of the second half to put the pressure on the Huskies.
- Halftime – 26-20 Northeastern leads at half.
- 1:10 – Timeout Huskies: 22-18 Northeastern leads.
- 3:57 - TV Timeout: 20-16 Northeastern. Siena is going on a bit of a run and the momentum feels like it may shift to the home team. These next four minutes before half are going to be crucial.
- 4:52 – First 3-pointer at the TUC by Jackson. 20-15 Northeastern.
- 5:38 - 20-10 Northeastern. Saints are still struggling shooting from the field but are being more aggresive heading to the basket. Big and-1 by Ubiles! 20-12 now.
- 8:06 – Last game the Saints didn’t hit a three until the last seconds of the first half and it appears to be the same today with still no 3′s for Siena. 20-6 Northeastern.
- 10:11 – Downy and Wignot are in off the bench for Jackson and Ubiles
- 11:14: TV timeout: 13-6 Northeastern. Student body finally showed up, and the Dog Pound is starting to get vocal.
- 13:41 – Timeout Siena: 11-2 still Northeastern leads.
- 14:27 – Monster block from Jackson that leads to a fast break, but Ubiles misses the dunk
- 18:30 – Siena is first on the board with an and-1 bucket from Franklin
15:50 - TV timeout: 5-2 Northeastern leads. Saints have been committing some sloppy turnovers reminiscient of the start of the Tenn. St. game
Looks like their defense is playing well enough, but they are sloppy with the ball on offensive side of the court. Moore is SO fast that defenders are falling down around him, but they aren’t moving the well. They are also putting up some sloppy looking shots. They are going need to step up their effort moving forward.
Looks like Fran’s decision to close practices to the media is making more sense.
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Not to belittle NU, because they are a good team, but the final score here was a lot closer than it needed to be. A win nonetheless. LETS GO SAINTS
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