EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — Justice Shoats scored 18 points to lead Siena to a 67-50 victory over Mount Saint Mary’s in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Knott Arena. The Saints (11-6) used a 13-4 run to close the first half, taking a 29-25 lead into the break, and steadily pulled away in the second half. The Mountaineers (6-12) were held to just 25 points in each half and could not mount a sustained rally. Shoats added five rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes for Siena. Francis Folefac contributed 15 points and Gavin Doty had 10 points with seven rebounds. Trey Deveaux led Mount Saint Mary’s with 12 points. A crowd of 2,001 attended the game, which saw Siena outperform its pregame projection as a 3-point favorite.

EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — Justice Shoats scored 18 points and Siena used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from Mount Saint Mary’s for a 67-50 victory in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Knott Arena. The Saints, who led by just four points at halftime, held the Mountaineers scoreless for a critical stretch of more than seven minutes in the second half to turn a tight contest into a comfortable road win. Siena improved to 11-6 overall, while Mount Saint Mary’s fell to 6-12. The game’s pivotal sequence began with Siena clinging to a 36-33 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining. From there, the Saints’ defense clamped down, forcing a series of Mountaineer misses and turnovers. Over the next 7 minutes and 14 seconds, Siena embarked on a 13-0 run, capped by a Gavin Doty dunk off a Christian Jones steal and assist with 7:01 to play, pushing the lead to 49-33. Mount Saint Mary’s, which shot just 29.4% from the field for the game, went 0-for-5 with three turnovers during the drought and never threatened again. The Mountaineers failed to reach 30 points in either half, scoring 25 in each period. Shoats, a guard from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, led all scorers and added five rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes of action. He was instrumental in stabilizing the Saints’ offense, which struggled with efficiency but capitalized on Mount Saint Mary’s mistakes. Francis Folefac provided a strong interior presence with 15 points, and Riley Mulvey controlled the glass with nine rebounds and two blocks. The first half was a disjointed affair, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm. Siena led 29-25 at the break despite shooting 37% from the field. The Mountaineers kept it close early behind Trey Deveaux, who had 12 points, but their offense stagnated against Siena’s active defense, committing 15 turnovers that led to 12 Saints points. Siena’s defensive pressure was the story, as they recorded seven steals and limited Mount Saint Mary’s to an offensive rating of 80.0 points per 100 possessions. The Saints also won the battle of efficiency, posting a 105.5 offensive rating despite their own shooting struggles, going 23 of 55 from the floor and 7 of 23 from three-point range. Luke McEldon led Mount Saint Mary’s with eight points and six rebounds, while Xavier Lipscomb grabbed eight rebounds. The Mountaineers won the offensive rebounding battle 13-8 but could not convert those extra chances, scoring only six second-chance points. The victory snapped a two-game conference road losing streak for Siena, which had fallen at Iona and to Merrimack at home in its last two MAAC contests. Mount Saint Mary’s saw a brief two-game win streak at Knott Arena come to an end. Siena returns to action Wednesday at home against Sacred Heart in non-conference play. Mount Saint Mary’s continues its MAAC schedule next Saturday at Canisius.

Saints, Mountaineers Meet in MAAC Clash EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — The Siena Saints visit the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers on Sunday in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup at Knott Arena. Siena (10-6, 2-3 MAAC) looks to rebound from a narrow 63-59 home loss to Merrimack on Friday. The Saints had won two of their previous three conference games, including a 74-65 victory at Rider on Jan. 4. Mount St. Mary’s (6-11, 2-3) enters with momentum after a 70-65 home win over Saint Peter’s on Friday, snapping a three-game skid. The game features a contrast in recent form and a key matchup in the frontcourt. Siena’s Francis Folefac is averaging 18.8 points over his last five games, including a 22-point effort in Friday’s loss. The Mountaineers counter with Luke McEldon, who is coming off an 18-point performance in a win over Iona on Dec. 29 and has scored in double figures in three of his last four outings. Siena’s offense has shown potency, averaging 74.3 points in its three MAAC wins, but was held under 60 points in both of its last two losses. Mount St. Mary’s has struggled consistently on the scoreboard, failing to reach 70 points in seven of its 11 losses this season. The Saints lead the all-time series 12-8, but the Mountaineers won the most recent meeting, 78-74, on Feb. 4, 2025. Following this contest, Siena hosts Sacred Heart on Wednesday. Mount St. Mary’s travels to face Canisius next Saturday.