SAN DIEGO — The Siena men’s basketball team played well on Friday, but the Saints let a late lead slip away.

With less than two minutes to play, Cal State Northridge scored five points in a 27-second span, to take the lead for good and hold on for a 68-64 victory,

The Saints (1-2) continue action in the NUCDF Basketball Challenge tonight, when they take on Northern Kentucky, at 10:30 p.m., at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of the University of San Diego.

Siena went up 58-57, with 3:07 remaining, when sophomore guard Evan Hymes hit two free throws.

Cal State Northridge (4-0) responded, getting a huge 3-pointer from Josh Greene, to put them up for good. That was Greene’s only trey of the game, on eight attempts. 

Twenty seconds later, Brandon Perry made one free throw and following the missed second attempt, Stephan Hicks scored, to put the Matadors up 63-58.

The Saints closed to within two twice, but Greene hit four free throws late to ice the game for Cal State Northridge.

O.D. Anosike and Rob Poole each scored 19 points for Siena. Poole hit five treys on the way to a career-high effort, while Anosike registered his 31st career double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds.

Anosike single-handedly erased a three-point halftime deficit, scoring the first 15 Saints points of the second half. Anosike was outscoring the entire Matadors team, 15-11, as Siena took a 46-45 lead.

The Saints shot much better than their first two games of the year. Siena made eight 3-pointers in the first half and shot 43 percent (22-51) for the game.

Hymes finished with 14 points and five assists, but committed a career-high 11 turnovers. Imoh Silas added four points and eight rebounds for the Saints. 

Cal State Northridge was led by Hicks, who scored a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Stephen Maxwell added 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Below is some postgame reaction, courtesy of the Siena Athletic Department.