Scorching-Hot Shooting Sends Siena Past Rider, Into MAAC Semifinals
What's the more impressive number? 87 points for a team that averaged 64 per game this season or 81% shooting for the second half by a group of guys virtually all new to the MAAC tournament?
Siena got off to a scorching-hot start in the MAAC quarterfinals against Rider, but the Saints finished even stronger than they started. Holding a one-point lead going to the locker room at halftime, Siena thrived from beyond the arc and turned it up to a ridiculous 81% from the floor in the second half on the way to an 87-81 win over Rider.
You've heard it all by now. Siena was picked in the preseason to finish dead last in the MAAC while Rider was the favorite to win the conference. Behind a couple of career-highs from Shaker grad Sloan Seymour, Siena put the Broncs behind them, moving into the semifinals Sunday night against top seed Iona. Seymour had 18 points on six threes.
The semifinals are set for Sunday at the Times Union Center: Siena vs Iona at 6pm followed by Monmouth and Canisius at 8:30pm.