Siena Takes Game One of CBI (Audio)

Update, 9:20 a.m. - I was joined by Laura Amato of the Troy Record Sports Department. The full eight minute interview appears below, with the written game story following.

Siena used a 26-13 run to erase a 12-point second half deficit in beating Fresno State, 61-57, on Monday night in game one of the CBI championship series.

The Saints (19-17) are one win away from claiming the program’s first championship in national postseason play. The Bulldogs fall to 20-17.

Trailing 40-28 with 16:49 left in the game, the Saints went on an 8-1 run to pull within five at 41-36. Fresno State used an Allen Huddleston layup to swell the lead back to 10 with 13:30 left, but Maurice White hit two free throws, and Marquis Wright and Ryan Oliver hit consecutive layups. Another Wright bucket pulled Siena back to within three at 47-44.

The Saints and Bulldogs swapped leads before Siena took the reign for good at 5:51. Lavon Long scored to give the Saints a 54-53 lead.

Fresno State had a chance to win the game late when Rob Poole turned it over with 13 seconds left, but the Bulldogs’ Marvelle Harris was called for a charge with less than three seconds to play.

Poole’s free throws sealed the win with two seconds left.

Long led the Saints with 13 points and four rebounds while Oliver contributed 10 points and six boards off the bench.

Game two will be played on Wednesday at the Alumni Recreation Center on the Siena College campus. Tip-off is 7 p.m. It is the first non-exhibition game played by Siena on campus in 17 years.