http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Siena-men-top-Holy-Cross-ready-for-MAAC-schedule-12451715.php
Siena men top Holy Cross, ready for MAAC schedule
Patsos, players feeling optimistic as Siena set for conference schedule
Published 11:42 pm, Friday, December 22, 2017
Albany
As the Siena men's basketball team breaks for the holidays, head coach Jimmy Patsos said he has a warm feeling about his team, and it's not just Christmas spirit.
That might sound odd from a program that's 4-9 heading into Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
But Patsos said the Saints are going in the right direction after a 71-65 victory over Holy Cross before a paid attendance of 5,526 at Times Union Center on Friday night that concluded the nonconference portion of the Saints' schedule.
" I feel a lot of positivity around the program," Patsos said. "It's funny because you go around the country and people say, 'Are you all right?' They're not used to Siena being 4-9. But people in the business know the schedule we're playing. But we're playing better in December than we are in November, and last time I checked, we're supposed to play better in January and February."
Playing their second game in three days, the Saints came out slowly against Holy Cross and fell behind 10-0. But junior guard Nico Clareth came off the bench to score 29 points, including 10 of 11 from the foul line.
"This is a gut-check game," Clareth said. "We love the game of basketball, and it's not so much your lungs and your legs. It's about the thing in your chest. It's about your heart."
The Saints, who have had trouble with inconsistency this season, submitted their third straight strong 40-minute performance. They dominated Bryant last Sunday, almost upset Memphis on Wednesday and held off several Holy Cross challenges on Friday.
Next they'll try to start off the MAAC on the right foot against Marist on Friday.
"Coach Patsos did a great job of putting this (schedule) together," freshman point guard Roman Penn (13 points) said. "It challenged us, showed us who we are. I'm excited for MAAC play."
Penn and his teammates got off to a somnambulant start against Holy Cross, which was missing its head coach. Bill Carmody, a Union College graduate, wasn't on the bench because of a family matter. Assistant Joe Scott took over instead.
When Connor Niego hit a 3-pointer to put the Crusaders up 10-0, Patsos called timeout with 17:38 to play in the first half.
"Just we're better than this," said Patsos, asked what he told his team. "No yelling. Just, I know. We're tired, they're not tired. Their coach isn't here. They're inspired ... I think we're better than this. And they just responded."
Clareth poured in 18 points in the first half as Siena rallied to take a 40-33 halftime lead. In the second half, he had a pair of steals a minute apart for a breakaway layup and breakaway dunk to put the Saints up 48-39 with 15:45 left.
When Holy Cross (3-8) closed within 52-49 with 11:48 left, Siena answered with a 10-1 run. Clareth assisted on a pair of Penn 3-pointers, and then Penn returned the favor on a Clareth 3-pointer that made it 62-50 with 8:47 to play.
"Just looking to shoot more," Penn said. "Nico was carrying us for a while and he needed some help, so he passed it to me and I was open."
Patsos also went to a small lineup with success. He had 6-foot-3, 170-pound Kadeem Smithen playing power forward. Smithen threw back-to-back passes to freshman center Prince Oduro, who had nine points in his return from plantar fasciitis, for a dunk and Evan Fisher for a layup late in the first half.
"There was a job opening, and anyone could take it, so I was like, hey, if I can do it, I'll do it," Smithen said.
Siena held a 36-28 rebounding advantage and made 26 of 36 foul shots.
Smithen, a redshirt junior, said the Saints are coming of age with a roster that has no seniors and five freshmen.
"I think the freshmen are getting used to the speed of the game and our (older players) are telling them it's a long season, you've got to keep going," Smithen said. "Now that MAAC play is here, we're at the right pace, so let's keep going."
msingelais@timesunion.com • 518-454-5509 • @MarkSingelais
