Siena's Gavin Doty stole the show at MVP Arena, leading his team to a 79-72 win over Iona with an impressive double-double. Doty's 21 points and 11 rebounds set the tone for Siena, who never trailed in the second half. The Saints' strong performance was a reflection of their depth, with Justice Shoats adding 18 points and 5 assists, and Francis Folefac chipping in with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Iona, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency on offense. Despite a strong first half, in which they scored 47 points, the Gaels managed only 22 points in the second half. Toby Harris led Iona with 17 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Siena's balanced attack. CJ Anthony and Denver Anglin added 14 and 13 points, respectively, but Iona's offense stalled in the second half, allowing Siena to pull away. The game unfolded with Siena taking an early lead, but Iona fought back to trail by only 3 points at halftime. However, Siena's defense stiffened in the second half, holding Iona to just 22 points. The Saints, meanwhile, continued to find ways to score, with Doty and Shoats leading the charge. CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Siena winning by 8.8 points, and while the final margin was slightly narrower, the prediction ultimately proved correct. Siena's win was a reflection of their strength, and they want to build on this momentum as they continue their season. The win has real consequences for Siena's tournament resume. As a Quadrant 4 win, it may not be the most impressive victory, but it is still a win against a decent opponent. For Iona, the loss is a Quadrant 3 defeat, which could potentially hurt their tournament chances. With a current net ranking of 224, Iona must string together some wins to improve their standing. Siena, on the other hand, improves to 16-7 on the season, with a net ranking of 176. While they still have work to do to secure a tournament bid, this win is a step in the right direction. With Doty and Shoats leading the way, Siena has the talent and depth to make a push for the postseason. For now, they will focus on building on this win and continuing to climb the rankings. The victory over Iona is a solid addition to Siena's resume, and they want to add more wins like this as the season progresses.
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