Siena's Justice Shoats stole the show at the Gallagher Center, scoring 25 points and dishing out 6 assists to propel his team to an 82-79 win over Niagara. The Saints, predicted to win by 9.2 points by CHD Scout, ultimately emerged victorious, albeit by a narrower margin than expected. This outcome was in line with pre-game expectations, as Siena was favored to take down the Purple Eagles.
The first half saw Siena take control, with the Saints building a 42-40 lead at the break. Justice Shoats was unstoppable, scoring 15 of his 25 points in the opening period. Niagara's Josiah Sabino kept his team in the game, netting 12 of his 19 points in the first half. The Purple Eagles' Landon Williams and Justin Hawkins also made significant contributions, with Williams scoring 10 of his 18 points and Hawkins adding 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists before halftime.
In the second half, Siena maintained its lead, but Niagara refused to back down. The Purple Eagles trimmed the deficit to just 2 points with 5 minutes remaining, thanks in part to Hawkins' clutch shooting and playmaking. However, Siena's Gavin Doty responded with a series of crucial baskets, scoring 10 of his 23 points in the final 10 minutes. Doty also grabbed 8 rebounds, including several key boards late.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
As the game hung in the balance, Justice Shoats took over, scoring 7 points in the final 2 minutes to seal the win for Siena. His performance was complemented by Doty's well-rounded effort and 11 points from Francis Folefac. On the other side, Justin Hawkins finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Landon Williams added 18 points.
This victory marks a Quadrant 4 win for Siena, which may not significantly boost their tournament resume but still represents a valuable road win. For Niagara, the loss is also classified as a Quadrant 4 game, which will have minimal impact on their already slim tournament hopes. With a current NET ranking of 172, Siena want to build on this win and strengthen their position in the standings.
The Saints' ability to close out the game on the road, despite being pushed to the limit by Niagara, is a reflection of their resilience and Justice Shoats' exceptional leadership. As the season enters its final stretch, Siena will aim to translate this win into momentum, while Niagara will strive to bounce back from a hard-fought defeat. The outcome of this game has real consequences for Siena's tournament chances, as they continue to jockey for position in the crowded field of potential postseason contenders.