Siena men's basketball closer to full strength meeting Marist

"I like where we're at and we've got to continue to get better," Siena coach Carmen Maciariello said.

With six regular-season games left, the Saints (16-9 overall, 10-4 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) are reintegrating McCollum and Eley into the rotation. They combined for 45 points on Friday with McCollum scoring 22 in his return from a back injury and Eley pouring in a career-high 23 points after missing two games due to illness.

"We've still got a lot of work to do," McCollum, who played 33 minutes, said in video provided by Siena athletic communications. "Going into this Marist game, we've just got to stay humble. No high or lows. That's what coach always preaches and we've got to come in and be the aggressor."

McCollum, who missed three of the previous four games, said he felt better after two appointments with a chiropractor, a suggestion Maciariello said was made by team doctor Hamish Kerr and athletic trainer Greg Dashnaw.

"They just wanted to get him aligned and looked at," Maciariello said. "Sometimes, it's mental, as well, right?"

Maciariello hoped flying, rather than busing, to and from Maryland will prevent a recurrence of McCollum's back issues.

The return of their two high-scoring young guards was immediately felt by Siena, which was 3-4 in its previous seven games.

"Oh man, just their ability to score the ball," Maciariello said. "I thought we did a good job being able to put them in positions to score, as well. It wasn't haphazard."

Siena is now missing just one player from its usual complement — senior forward Jordan Kellier, still recovering from foot surgery.

Their depth came into play on Friday night, when the Saints fell behind 13-4. Maciariello went to his second unit with Eley, guard Jayce Johson, backup center Eduardo Lane and backup point guard Zek Tekin.

That group helped Siena back into the game, including one key sequence Maciariello highlighted. They grabbed five offensive rebounds in one possession that led to two Eley foul shots.

"I thought Jayce gave us great minutes," Maciariello said. "Just guys understanding we've got to set the tone and if the starters are a little sluggish, the bench comes in and provides some minutes. That was a pretty good tone-setter for our guys."

Maciariello said he wasn't happy with Siena's 13 turnovers against a Mount St. Mary's team that doesn't pressure.

Siena returns to action against Marist (8-15, 4-10), which the Saints defeated 70-55 on Jan. 29 in Poughkeepsie. Siena sophomore guard Jared Billups scored a career-high 24 that afternoon.

The Red Foxes beat Siena 62-53 last year in Albany. But then Marist had guards Jao Ituka (Wake Forest) and Ricardo Wright (SMU), who both transferred after the season.

This year Marist is led in scoring by 6-foot-11 redshirt senior center Patrick Gardner, a transfer from Division II Saint Michael's, who averages 18.6 points per game.

"Marist is going to be tough and physical and they put it to us here last year," Maciariello said.

Siena is in third place in the MAAC entering Sunday's action. They're a game behind idle Rider and a half-game behind Iona, which plays at Niagara.

After beating Mount St. Mary's to complete its first regular-season sweep, Siena will try to repeat the feat against Marist.

"It's key," Maciariello said. "You know the league is always going to be tight, so when you can do that, it's big."