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Niagara edges Siena in final seconds, 58-54
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – A career-high 24 points by birthday boy Ameen Tanksley helped the Niagara Purple Eagles clip the Siena Saints, 58-54, on Friday at the Gallagher Center to snap their five-game losing streak.
“Obviously, it was a great win for us,” head coach Joe Mihalich said. “It’s that time of the year where you want to get some momentum.”
Antoine Mason connected on a driving left-handed layup with 14 seconds remaining to put Niagara (10-16, 5-9 MAAC) up 56-54. On the en suing possession, Siena’s Kyle Downey’s missed a jumper with three seconds left. Juan’ya Green was fouled and made two of his game-high seven free throws to seal the Purple Eagles’ fourth straight home win in the series.
Niagara’s freshman duo of Tanksley and Green carried Niagara to victory, combining for 40 of NU’s 58 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals. The duo, who are childhood friends from Philadelphia, also celebrate birthdays on consecutive days; Green’s was yesterday. Tanksley, who turned 20 today, scored the game’s first points with a 3-pointer and had 12 of NU’s first 14 points.
A 3-pointer by Josh Turner built Niagara’s largest lead of the game at 25-16 with 7:16 left in the half before Siena (10-14, 5-9 MAAC) ended the half on a 10-3 run to trail by two at the break.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Green and Tanksley gave the Purple Eagles a 36-28 lead with 15:58 left, though the Saints scratched their way back into the game. Siena took its first lead of the half at 45-44 with 8:07 left and was up 52-49 when Tanksley tied the game with his career-high sixth 3-pointer with 2:29 remaining. Green made a pair of free throws which was followed by a pair by Downey to tie the game at 54-54 with 48 seconds left.
“What I’m really proud of is this was a character win,” Mihalich said. “We had a devastating loss this past weekend (Rider) and our guys didn’t not let that carry into tonight’s (game).”
Niagara continues its three-game homestand against Rider on Saturday at 2 p.m. Purple Eagle legend Frank Layden (’55) will have his jersey retired at halftime of the game. For ticket information, contact the Niagara Athletic Ticket Office at 716-286-TIXX (8499) or at tickets@purpleeagles.com.
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