Siena falls to Bucknell in offensive shootout

LEWISBURG, PA — Defending Patriot League Champion and preseason favorite Bucknell shot 61% from the field – including 10-20 from three – and made 39-45 (86.7%) from the free throw line to shoot past Siena Basketball 115-92 in a barnburner at Sojka Pavilion. The 207 combined points scored marked the most in a Siena game since a 105-103 loss in an NIT contest at Penn State on Mar. 20, 2000.

Preseason All-Patriot League selection Zach Thomas led five players in double figures with 25 points including a 19-22 performance from the free throw line for Bucknell (1-4) which won its 11th straight home game. Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year Nana Foulland added 15 points in 15 minutes for the Bison which also won their home opener for the ninth consecutive season.

Junior guard Nico Clareth scored 21 points and dished out a career-high tying six assists for Siena (0-4) which has eclipsed the 90-point mark in consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 23-29, 2008. Freshman guard Roman Penn added a season-high 14 points off the bench for the Saints who were facing their fourth straight 20-win opponent to open the year, including a third preseason conference favorite.

Bucknell, which was coming off a two-point loss at Maryland Saturday following an eight-point setback at ninth ranked North Carolina Wednesday, led virtually throughout and by as many as 33 points in earning their first win in five all-time meetings with Siena. The Saints had defeated the Bison in each of the previous three seasons by a combined seven points.

Sophomore guard Ahsante Shivers scored all 13 of his points in the first half to help Siena cut an early 16-point deficit down to nine. But Bucknell closed the half on a 16-5 run to claim a 20-point advantage at 56-36 at the break.

Bruce Moore and Nate Sestina contributed 14 points apiece for the Bison which shot 63% from the field in the second half and led by no fewer than 17 points in the final stanza. Jimmy Sotos rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points and five assists for Bucknell which dished out 24 assists on their 33 made field goals.

Junior forward Evan Fisher added 13 points in 15 minutes for the Saints which shot 48% from the floor.

Siena returns to the Capital Region to embark upon its first of two season-long three-game homestands Saturday. The Saints host Hofstra at 2 p.m. in the front end of a Siena Basketball doubleheader, which concludes with the women taking on Howard at 4:30 p.m.