From Trentonian intern Libor Jany

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - Siena’s frenetic pace on offense, coupled with a suffocating, trapping defense that forced 15 turnovers, overwhelmed the Broncs and held star Ryan Thompson mostly in check.

Rider’s Novar Gadson had a career-high 25 points, on 10-of-17 shooting, but it was not nearly enough as the Saints ran away with a 80-54 win Friday at Alumni Gym. Thompson finished with 10 points.

At times, it seemed like the MAAC-leading Saints were playing with the same reckless abandon and intensity one would expect from a team fighting for a higher seed in the postseason tournament: a team like Rider, who is struggling to gain ground in the MAAC race.

Edwin Ubiles led the way for Siena with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting.

“They’re a tough team. I don’t care what their record says,” said Siena junior forward Ryan Rossiter. “They’re real physical inside.” Rossiter recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Yet, whether it was diving for lose balls or coming up with timely offensive rebounds, Siena came out determined to put the game away early. The quick hands of senior point guard Ronald Moore disrupted Rider’s timing on offense as Moore and his backcourt mate Clarence Jackson each had three steals.

Siena raced out to a 47-28 halftime lead, by shooting 61.3 percent in the first half.

According to forward O.D. Anosike, Siena’s gameplan was to take a “business-like approach” in limiting Thompson’s scoring opportunities, and they were effective for the most part.

The crafty Moore summed it up best when he said his teammates were simply “defensively getting after it, and limiting them (Rider) to one-shot opportunities.”

Despite the one-sided affair Moore, who finished eight points and a game-high eight assists, was dissatisfied the team’s performance down the stretch.

“We let up a bit at the end,” he said.